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1/ 



"A MIRROR 



ron 



THE PRETENDED DEMOCRACY,' 

FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCKH OF OCTOBF.n 1, 1840 

To which is added, 

A REPORT ON EXECUTIVE PATRONAGE, 

Made to the Senate of the United States, May J, 182C, 
BY A SELECT COMMITTEE, 

CONSISTING OF MESSRS. BENTON, MACON, VAN BUREN, WHITE, DICKERSON, 
HOLMES, HAVNE, AND JOHNSON OF KENTUCKY 



Anion? iho objections to ihe present Administration, following in the footsteps of the last, 
which deserve a more parlicuhir consideration than they have heretofore received from us, 
is the great extent to which Executive Patronage has been employed, according to ti.e 
maxim of the dominant party, for the rewarding its friends and the jiunishment of its ene- 
mies, and with a view to the perpetuation of its own power. Perhaps our readers, for the 
interest of the sulject, will keep company with us whilst we hastily j ass in review the po- 
litical history of the few past years in reference to the extension, perversion, and abuse of 
Executive patronage. 

It is within the recollection of every reader how great a clamor was raised, during the 
Presidency of .Mr. J. Q. Adams, against his Administration, for its imputed di.*po.«ition to 
extend and augment the Executive patronage with a view to political power, &c. Unfound- 
ed and unjust as the imputation was, it was the chief of the ostensilile grounds of opposition 
to the re-election of Mr. Adams. To give it more consequence in the public eye, it was made 
the subject of labored inquiries and solemn reports by party committees in both Houses of 
Congress, and of prolonged and vehement debates in those bodies, as well as of the most in- 
sidious appeals to popular prejudice; in which service all the arts by which demagogues so 
well know how to dupe the people when ihey want to make use of them, were put in re- 
quisition. 

We recur to the records of that day as well f )r the jjurpose of showing what doctrines 
were then maintained by those who an- now at the head of the pr, tended democratic party, 
as also for authentic official evidence of the actual extent of Executive patronage, direct 
and indirect, which these pure and disinterested patriots, to answer the purpose they had 
then in hand, represented as a crying grievance. From the printed documents of Congress 
now beiore us we extract the following particulars: 

In the StXATE of the United States, on the 8th day of February, 1826, the following 
resolution, moved by Mr. .Macon, (at the instance, probably, of Mr. Bejjtox,) was 
adopted without a division, viz : 

" Resolved, That the commiiiep to whom have been referrpd the several resolutions in amend the Consti- 
tution of the United Slates, be instructed to inquire into ihe expediency of diminishing or regulating ihe 
patronage of the Executive ol the United Slates, and thai ihe commiuee have leave to report by bill or 
otherwise." 

[This committee consisted of Mr. Bextox, Mr. Macox, Mr. Vax Bcrv.x, and six 
other Senators] 

On the 4th day of May, 1826, Mr. Bentox, the chairman of this committee, produced 
to the Senate, as the result of their deliberations, a report, beginning as follows : 

" After mature deliberation, the committee are of opinion that it is expedient to di- 
' minish, or to regulate, by law, the Executive patronage of the Federal (iovernment, 

* whenever the same can be done consistently with the provisions of the ("onsiitution, and 

♦ without impairing the proper efficiency of the Government. Acting under this conviction 

• they have reviewed, as carefully as time and other engagements would permit iheni to 
' do, the degree and amount of patronage now exercised by the President, and have ar- 
' rived at the conclusion that the same may, and ought to, be diminished by law." 






"In coming to the conclusion (says the report, further) that Executive patronage ought 
' to be diminished and regulated, on tiic plan proposed, [by six several bills reported by 
• the committee, but never passed upon,] the committee rest their opinion on the ground 
' that the exercise of ^eaf patronage in the handa of one man has a constant tendency to 
' sully the purity of our institutions and endanger the liberties of the country." 

Inserting (or understanding) the word *' unnecessarily," or any word of similar import, 
het'ore the word '■* grrut," where it occurs in the above sentence, the lioctrine which it in- 
cludes is sound Whig doctrine, such as all real Democrats profess when out of power, and 
try to act upon when the power is in their hands. It is the doctrine upon which all 
branches of the Government acted durintr the lirst years of Mr. .Ikffeksox's Administra- 
tion ; which the accident of war for several years put aside durinsi apart of .Mr. .MirisoN's ; 
which was revived in jiractice after the exigencies of war cea>ed, was observed, with a good 
deal of consi'stency, during Mr. Monroe's, hut was most rigidly practised upon during the 
Administraiion of .Mr. J. Q. Adams, when Messrs. Bknton, Vax Bi nr.x & Co. airected 
to take fright at the alarming extent of Kxecntive patronage. 

In order t^) show upon what groutids these gentlemen had arrived at tlie conclusii>n that 
the degree and amount of the patronage then exercised by the President might and ought 
to be diminished, the Senate's committee begins very properly by showing the extent to 
which that patronage then existed. We quote the report: 

" The commiuop ilmik il richl lo ailempt id give an idea of ilio erealnes.'! of this jiower of pauvinafe bv re- 
lerrinp to an example in a single city. They will take the city of Ne»v York, and a sinele brancti of the 
federal patronacc in thai city T and, lo avoid 'mistake or error, will limit their reference to a work of unques- 
tionable authority uimn this subject— the ' B/i/t BooA-'of the Republic, which corresponds with the ' /??d 
Book' of niunarchies, and will read from paees U, 42. W, •14, 4;'). 4b, of that growinc little volume. 

Names and Compensation of the Officers of the Cui,ti>ms at i\ew York. 



Ji^naihan Thompson, 


Collector, 


_ 


. 


. 


- 84,000 OO 


Abraham R. Lawrence, 


Appraiser. 


. 






- 2,000 Kl 


Frederick Jenkins, 


do. 


- 


- 


. 


- 2,000 00 


VTilllam Seisnorel, 


Clprk, 


. 


. 


. 


500 0(1 


John Gondii, 


Assist. Collector, Ji rsey. 




- 


- l.OOO 00 


John T. Vernon, 


Surveyor, 


. 






1.50 00 


John Kearney, 


Deputy Collector, 


. 


. 


- 1.500 00 


Samuf 1 S. Gardiner, 


do. 




- 




- 1,500 00 


David Thomp.son, 


Cashier, 


. 






- 1.500 00 


Nathaniel Snidlz, 


.Auditor, 


CLEfiKS. 






- l.'KX) 00 


Cornelius Duryee 


8650 00 


Daniel Bennel - 


.500 00 


Wm. B. Bvram 


- 30000 


Ebenezer Plait 


G.50 00 


Jos. Osl orii, Jr. 


;VX) 00 


And. H.Mickle 


30000 


Jacob Duryee - 


600 00 


James B. Thurston 


500 00 


Nathaniel Olcou 


50000 


Zeophar P'lalt - 


5o0 OO 


Norman Butler 


600 00 


David Seabury • 


50000 


.(o.seph Leonard 
T. McCready, Jr. 


.'wO tKl 


Samuel H. Eakin 


600 00 


Lewis M. Wiss 


145 53 


.->o(t OiO 


Chas. .\. Gardiner 


5«1 (« 


John R. Kean - 


241 67 


\Vm. Wier 


. .-,00 00 


Thos. H. Dubois 


500 00 


Aaron Phillips - 


1 12 2-2 


\Vm G. Haycock 


500 00 


Thos. Uonnison 


5(X) 00 


John Harrison - 


79 12 


John H. Ball - 


50tl OK 


William J. McMaster. 


.-.00 00 


Bernardus C. Lake 


73 63 


George W. Thom|j9on ■ 


SIX) 00 


Andrew IMarline 


.500 00 


Junius Thompson 


92 03 


VVm. Tmhill - 


.500 00 


Isaai", BUixome - 


500 00 


George Waterman 


.->S 24 


Joshua Phdips - 


500 00 


Henry Bull 

IXSPECTOllS. 


.■JKI IM 






James Anderson 


81 .('95 00 


Oliver Jaques ■ 


;500 00 


Sylvester Sullivan 


- 1.095 00 


James D. Bissei 


l.nSG 00 


Wm. Keepe 


1.095 00 


Peter Taylor - 


300 00 


Josepli Board • 


1,1195 00 


Peter Kiiiman - 


1,095 00 


Ecberl Thompson 


• 1,095 00 


Abraham Boker 


1.0?5 00 


John B. Kissam 


303 00 


Wm. Und.rhill 


30000 


John R. Bowne 


i,(v:o 00 


John H. Leiicatl 


1,095 00 


B. i\L Van Beuren 


- 1.095 00 


Geo. G. Biirms - 


I,nS0 00 


Jacob Ludlain • 


1,095 00 


Wm. Van Beuren 


- 1.095 00 


John Byt-rs 


•JSi 00 


Donald McLean 


1.077 (XI 


Jacob V.uidprpool 


• 1.095 00 


Charles' Cliip|i • 


1,095 ai 


Samuel Marvin 


1.095 00 


John Van Dvck 


- I.t195 00 


Stephen Crane - 
.\losc8 Cunningham • 


1,095 00 


James i\Iitchill 


1,095 rtl 


Andrew Vai'i Tiiyl 


■ 1.095 (\l 


297 00 


John iNIorris 


1,095 OO 


Jacob Van Winkle 


- 1.095 00 


Jos. Cutler 


1.092 (10 


Walter IMorlon ■ 


1,095 00 


Thomas Walton 


- i,o;« on 


Thomas Darling 


1,095 00 


John C. :Mou 


300 00 


Thiimas Warinc 


- 1.095 00 


John Do Camp ■ 


1,(195 (Kl 


Wm. E. Ne.\rn 


1,095 00 


Caleb T. Ward 


- 1 ,095 on 


Bertraud Dupoy 


1,(160 00 


Richard Xi.xnji - 


1 .095 00 


Richard Warvl - 


- 1.095 00 


Jacob Frank 


i.osi; 00 


Naphuili Pliili)«< 


1,095 00 


Jpdcdiali Watenimn 


- 1,095 On 


Calvin Gay 


1,0-ti ai 


Eliiah Pinkncv 


1.095 («) 


Wm. Willing • 


1.095 OO 


John Gelst'oii - 


1 ,095 tX) 


Richard Plati ' 


1.080 00 


Ji.hn Whittlesey 


1,095 on 


Zaddock llcddfu 


1,095 00 


James Porter 


1,095 00 


Elam Williams' 


1.095 0-1 


Georce Howard 
Bczalecl Howe 


1,095 OO 


Gf'orse Sfanutn 


297 00 


J..S. Willoushby 


300 00 


1,095 (X) 


Waller Seaman 


1.080 tXI 


Benjamin Woo«l 


• 1.095 00 


Nathaniel Hunt 


1,095 00 


Elihu Smiili 


30O 00 


John Wihidward 


1.095 00 


Robert Hunter 


1,074 (XT 


Peter R. Sprainger 


1.077 00 






George Junis - 


1,095 00 


Dnnnis SincRer" 


1.095 00 







Abraham Bauildine 
Riiiier V. Moonev 



Ebenezfr Belknip 
Alexander Bluchei 
jHroniiah Brower 
Elilui H. Decamp 



Samuel Burling 
Nicholas G. Carmer 
Daniel Dodge - 
Ezekiel Dodge 

Peisr Smiih, Deputy Inspector of the Revenue 

Eiienezer Cole, do. 

Will. Jessup, do. 

G. Cunningham, do. 

Henry Cah lone. Captain Revenue Cutter 

Wm. Isaac, 1st Lieutenant do. 

J. A. Bender, 2d do. do. 

John S. D'lane, Keeper of Light-house 

John H Gardiner, do 

Noah Ara.<;on, do. 

Edward SiiOf'maker, do. 

Charles H. Bernard, Light ship Master, - 

John Oakes, Mate, - - - . 

J.ihn Fert;us in, Naval Officer, 

David S.Lyon, Deputy do 





GAUOKIIS. 




1,759 68 
1,874 54 


Eliaa Nexon 
Arch. Soni?rviUe 

WEIGH^ns. 


l,.^39 29 
1,015 49 


1,781 17 
1,619 94 
1,630 74 
2,153 .58 


Gerrct Forbes • 
Thomas Hazard 
Franci.s IMcChirc 
Alexander NicoU 

MEASrnsBS. 


3,a8G 70 
1,040 41 
2,176 23 
1,161 27 


G18 65 

936 47 

1,174 17 

727 33 


John Gould 
Jamns W. Gray 
Wm. Pliilips ■ 
Bernardus Kider 


1,040 29 

8.33 66 

1,121 79 

1,252 29 



Har. C. Tallmau 
Wm. R. Thompson 



Jacoli Slouienbiirg 
Jacob Tall man - 
Elbert P. Wainp 



Ephraim Snow - 
Harmanus Vedder 
Peter Wynkonp 
John J. Oluett - 



1,843 66 
2,187 99 



1,065 10 
2,363 10 
2,382 68 



885 51 

■ 1,041 43 

- 1,124 09 

524 47 

-«1,748 87 
too 35 

- 1,235 71 

84 60 
819 00 
566 00 
5f)6 00 

■ 400 00 
3.-,0 00 
.300 00 
300 00 
70' 00 
350 W 

• 3,00(1 00 

• LolK) 00 



Lewis Webb, Jr. 
James McFarland 



CLEllKS. 

SSOO 00 Lewis D. Ozville 

7.50 dO Michael Roth • 

600 00 Henry Reed - 

6LK) 00 Josop'li B. Bleecher ■ 

- 2,500 00 E. B. uravson, Third Clerk, 

- 1,500 00 D. Tliomps.-.n, CollfCiiiii,' do. 
800 00 Jnhn C. Mickle, IMes.senger, 
7.')0 00 Thomas Brannan, P>)rter, - 



G'OO 00 

600 00 

601 00 
500 00 



400 00 
60 00 



500 00 
170 00 
3W 00 
ISO 00 



Wm. Burisell - 
.I.'hn Cookie - 
Philip TabelG - 
Samuel Osgood 
Joseph G. Swift, Surveyor, 
Samuel Terry, Deputy dn. 
Anthony Half, First Clerk. 
Pierre A. Yiumg, Second do 

"A formidable list, indeed ! formidalde in numbers, and still more so from the vast amount of money in 
iheir liands. The action of such a body of men,supposin!: them to be animated by one spirit, must be tre- 
mendous in an election ; and that they will be so animated, is a propusiti.m luo plain to need dHnionsiration. 
Powe/- over a man's s«p/>o/7 has nhvays been held and admiupj to be poirer over his icill. The President 
has 'power' over the 'suppoit' of all thesp officers, and they ag-nn have 'power' over the 'support' 
of debtor merchants to the amount often miUi )ns of dollars per annum, and over the daily support 
of an iinmnnse number of individuals, pr>fossional, mechanical, and day-laljorini^, to whom they ca« and 
will extend, or deny, a valualile private as well as public patronage, according to the pan which 
Ihev shall act in Slate, as well as in Federal, elecii lus. Still this is only a branch, a mere prong, 
of Federal patronage in tho ciiy of New York. The same Government ha.s, in the same city, a 
Branch of the United Sia'ps Bank, wielding a capital of many millions; a large military, nav.U, and post 
office esiahlishmeul ; a judiciary, with its appr ipriatc officers ; pressos, which print the laws and public ad- 
vertisements ; and a long lisi ol contractors and j ibbers." 

As at New York, so (further argues the Report) is it throuo;hout the Union. " Every- 

* "where, to the extreme frontier of the remotest State and Territory, Federal patronage 

* will be found, in degree and fi)rce, proportionate to the population of the place, and for- 

* ever augmenting with the increasing power of the Government. Diminution ufpafron- 
' age is not thought of." "The power of patronage, utdess checked by the vigorous 
' iiiterp.i.siiion of Congress, must go on increa-;iiig, until Federal influence, in many parts 
' of this Confederation, will predominate in elections as completely as British influence 
' predomin ites in the elections ol' Scotlind and Ireland, in rotten horougii towns, and in 
'the great naval stations of Portsmouth and Plymouth." 

Confining ourselves, for the moment, to what concerns the extension of Executive pat- 
ronage, (reserving for separate consideration other parts of this celebrated and really ortho- 
dox exposition of the danger to be apprehended from the undue enlargement of Executive 
patronage,) we proceed to show how the party, for whose purposes this re()ort was made, • 
with the Master Spirit of this conniiittee nt the head of that party, has not only not con- 
formed in practice to its own preaching, but, instead of diminishing the Executive patro- 
nage, (the not doing which was the only charge the Senate C')mmiitee ventured even to 
insinuate against President Auams,) has actually, within the ten or eleven years it hag 
had possession of power, trebled and even qiiadruplecl the degree and amount of Uie 
Executive patronage! Mr. Adams had not set himself to work to razee the frame of the 
Government as it came into Ids hands, and the morals of the Opposition, organized by 
Mr. Vav Bcrkx to his Administration, became so shocked nt the danger of corrujiiion 
from this source, that some expression of their delicate sensibilities upon the subject bt came 



absolutely nccessarj' lo relieve their laboring breasts. Hence the Report, from which we 
have made the above extract, in which they disburihened themselves of their patriotic 
anxieties. Now let us see to what extent Mr. Van Bires and his friends, having full 
possession of power for eleven years, have cut down the expenseo of tlie Government, 
dnd thereby reduced the extent of Executive patronage. 

In this examination we follow the example of the Senate committee, in every particular. 
We take the city of New York, and a single brancli of the federal patronage in that city, 
and, " to avoid mistake or error," we too limit our reference to the work " of unquestion- 
able authority," the " Blue Book" of the Republic : and from that book, the United States' 
Official Register of all Officers and Agents in the service of the United States on the 30th 
of September, 1839, (pages 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49,) we copy 
the following : 

Officers of the Custo/ns at New York. 



Jesse Hoyi, 
J. T. Fpreus^an, 
John J. Mumford, 
Georee Davis, 
C. P.'Clinch, 
G. A. VVassijn, 
Sidney Wei more. 



Tal iwn J. Waters. Cashier 



Culleclor 
Deputy Collector 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 



J. K. Sleeker, 
John A. Fleniine, 
W. P. HoU, 
John W. Hunter, 



Assistant Cashier 
Auditor 

Assisiani Auditor 
do 



Jeromus Johnson ■ 2,000 00 

A. B. IMpad - - 2.000 00 

A. B. Vanderpoel • 2,iXtO 00 

R. M. Mitchell - l.'iJO W 

J. L. TilTaiiy - 1,2.W OiJ 

S. H. Eakin - - 1,030 00 

A.N.Philips - - ],0.-,0 00 

Leonard A. Bleecker - 1,":)0 00 

Elias D. Ogdeii - 1,(I0«1 00 

William A. Spies - l,tiOO 00 

Naih. Alcotl ■ - 1,050 00 

Wm. Lane - l,0o0 00 

D.Sullivan - • l,u.-)0 ai 

C. Duryee - - l.lXJO 00 
R. C. Overton - - l,tiO<J 00 
Isaac Bluxome- - l.OOfl 00 
J. Leonard - - 1,000 W 
W. J. Mc.Masier - 1,000 00 
T. V. Mumford - 1,000 (K) 
Chas. A. Gardiner - 1,0.10 00 

D. Bonnet . l,(H» (XI 
D. Stansbury ■ ■ LiKW 00 
John R Hinchman - l.iVXI 00 
Leonard Wvaul - l.OtKI 00 
M. S. Swariwoul - l.aiO 00 
James B. Thursuin - 1,000 fK) 
Wm. C. Daviou - 1,000 (K) 
G.A.Brown - - l,OiKi (kj 
J. A. Bogarl - - 900 00 
Samuel Cadle - - 900 Wl 
R. S. Newby - - 8lK» 00 
J. B. Wood . • 900 IXJ 
Wm. Deinpsey- - 90(100 
G.S. Brisbin - - 900 00 
W. C. Gray - - 900 (.X) 
H. W. Christie - • 900 01 
P. V. Remspn ■ 900 00 
O. W. R.>se - 900 00 



H.nry Aboil • - t^oSj 00 

Abraham .^ckerman • 1.09.'i 00 

RowlaniJ P. Allen - I,09."> 00 

Kolipfi Adams- - I.oil.i 00 

HcMiry t". Atwrnnl - l.O'.lj 00 

John Bli'prker - ■ 1,09."> 00 

James 1) Bisset l,oy.'> 00 

Jiihn R Br.iwne l,o9:) 00 

Wm. J Brown ■ 1,09.-. 00 

Jae.ib Burdeue - 1,095 00 

John Black 1, 095 oo 

William Benjamin • l,09o 00 



APPRAISERS. 

J. Lounsberry • • l.oOO 00 J. Prall 

B. J. Messerole ■ - 1.500 00 P. Thomas - 



CLERKS. 




G. D. Overton - 


90 J 00 


G. L. O.nhoui • 


9(Xl 00 


K. H. Plume - 


900 00 


W. Fream 


900 00 


C. Gill - 


900 00 


P. A. Young - 


900 00 


P.R.Slrachan - 


900 00 


C.Radclitr 


900 00 


C.J. Cannon - 


900 00 


E.L. Mauh(;ws 


900 00 


H. Doane 


900 00 


J.H.Roe 


9(X>00 


S. Parei 


900 00 


Thomas Shankland - 


IHXI 00 


K. B. Adams - 


800 ai 


J. C. Delmar • 


800 00 


J. L. S. Grandin 


800 a) 


E. Hyde 


800 00 


E. G. Livingston 


800 00 


J.C. .N'iebuhr • 


goo 00 


P K. O'-'den - 


8(K1 00 


D. S. Grandin - 


sai 00 


W. B. Kremain 


800 00 


H.Bruce 


800 00 


W. W. Fream - 


800 00 


T. H. Dennison 


800 00 


CM. Tucker • 


800 00 


C W. Baker - 


8(10 00 


W. \. Pearson - 


800 a) 


H. Ulshneffer - 


,>W) 00 


Thomiis J. Gillilan 


SOO (Kt 


Frederick Schwanck - 


800 OO 


F. C. Niebuhr - 


600 00 


R. V. Newby - 


(MW Oil 


INSI-ECTOUS. 




Thomas Brownell 


1,095 00 


Deiinis Briuk - 


1,095 00 


G.<.ir!:p H Biildle 


1,095 00 


Harii:ibas Bates 


1.095 00 


Witliaiii Boi'cs - 


1,095 00 


JfiV>TSivn 15ro\vn 


1.095 00 


Ad.im Blacklldge 


1,095 on 


William Beel)e 


1,095 00 


Pius, al Benine - 


1,095 oO 


Alexander Bidwell 


1,095 00 


.Saimiel W. Coe 


1,095 00 


William Cairnes 


1,095 00 



G. 1). Cooper - 
G. W. Blake - 
W. C. Lonnor - 
W. M. Hair - 
M. BurnWam - 
Elam Bliss 
Edwarii Bleeker 
J. E. Ch.ideayne 
Charles J. Chipp 
William A. Cox 
H. i\L Graham 
Muiison Gray - 
James H. Greenfield 
John U. Heruell 
John R. S. Huggei 
U. Kohlsaai 
Samuel Luplon 
Daniel Monroe 
K. H. Nichols - 
William T. Prall 
Edgar Tripler 
George C. Tyler 
.\\<ni. Vanderpxd 
Adrian Van Kiper 
Geo. M. Wet more 
James N. Jones 
Francis Vostpiir;; 
Chas. W. JuhnsLm 
Charles H. Innes 
John H Dunn ■ 
W H. Hyatt, porter 
J. P. Hart", messeogcr 
W. Elder do 
C. Niebuhr do 



Amos Coles 
Barnei Colo 
H-'nry Cheavans 
JohnColvill 
Jiiseph (.!lark ■ 
Peier Ci'ulanl • 
Ji>hn Connor 
Abraham W. Cooj.ier 
John Cx 
Wm Currie 
Nathan Chamberlain 
Jacob J. Cohen 



«4,40U 
1,500 
1.500 
1,500 
1300 
1,500 
l,5tiO 
3,000 
1,500 
3,000 
1,500 
1,250 

IjOOOO 
1.500 to 



600 o' 

400 0° 



,0 



4000;; 
300 
l.oco 0' 

SCO 0^ 

l.fOO 0" 

1,000 0° 

1,000 0" 

1.000 0" 

1,000 0° 

1.000 0° 

1,000 0^ 

1,000 0° 

1,000 0^ 

1,000 o" 

600 00 

1,000 00 

1.000 00 

1,000 00 

1,000 00 

1,000 00 

,--00 00 

1,000 00 

1,000 CO 

1,000 00 

1,000 00 

1.000 00 

500 00 

200 00 

800 00 

250 OO 

200 CO 

80fl 00 



1,095 00 
1.095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,«95 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1.095 00 

1.09; 0» 



Thomas Chauerion ■ l,o05 or> 

Jiihn Comerloril ■ 1,095 00 

Patrick Caffry ■ ■ 1,095 00 

L. K. Campbell - 1,095 Oo 

Thomas Casliii ■ 1,095 00 

.T.ihn DeKainp - - 1.095 00 

Abraham Davids ■ 1,095 00 

JiiSPph [Ircvfouse - 1.095 00 

T.J. Davis - - 1,095 00 

Moral! Dusan - - 1,095 00 

Abraham Dally, Jr. - 1,095 00 

Jpreiiiiali Hoilse - 1,095 00 

Edmiuid Drisgs - 1, 095 oo 

Charlps Denike - 1,095 00 

Thomas S. Day - l,o95 00 

Darius Darling - 1,095 00 

A.G.Dixon - - 1.095 00 

J. O. Dissowav - ■ 1 .095 00 

Malhaniel De'vaii - 1,095 00 

John J. Earlp - - 1,095 00 

AnUionv B. EUis.m - 1,095 00 

Jnspph Ellis - - 1,095 00 

R. J. Everett - 1,095 00 

Joli Funnan • - 1,095 00 

Henry Kaunin:: - l,{i95 00 

Richard Einninf! - 1,095 00 

Charles D. KieldT - 1.095 00 

Samuel B. Klpmitis ■ 1,095 00 

Pel er Field - - 1,095 00 

David Peeks - • 1,095 00 

F.B. Filch - 1,095 00 

Peter Kairchild • 1,095 00 

.r.hn H Frederick • I,o95 00 

Joshua Fleet - - l,o95 00 

David Gardner - 1,095 oo 

W. H. P Graham ■ 1,095 oo 

Peter Gordon - - 1,095 00 

Thos. M. Gahoian - l,o95 00 

Charlfcs Green " - 1,095 00 

Edmund Gr.'ss l,o95 00 

JJalhauiel H. Green - 1,095 00 

Frederick Groslv.Mi ■ 1,095 00 

D- Henderson, jr. - 1,095 00 

Edward Hitchcock - l,o95 00 

Elias Hicks - • 1,095 00 

Wm. Honav - • l,o95 00 

VVard B. Howard - 1,095 00 

D. R Hiti-hcock - 1,095 00 

Andrew Hutlon - 1,095 00 

William D. Hughes - 1.095 00 

George Howard - 1.095 00 

John H. Hunt - - 1.095 00 

Edwin A. Hopkins - 1,095 00 

Thomas Hope - ■ 1.095 00 

Addis-n Hill . - 1,095 00 

Charlfs Hunter - 1,095 oo 

Thomas Hh 11 . - 1,095 00 

Archibald Hays - 1.095 oo 

Thomas Howard • 1,095 00 

David Holly - - 1.095 00 

Isaac A. Isaacs ■ 1 .095 00 



George Iiint ;■■ 
Edgar Irvini' 
Andrew Jackson 
Thomas J'likins 
Otiadiah Jackson 
Williim D. Jiiups 
Henry Keyscr ■ 
Robert E Kelley 
John C. Keeler 
George H. Kel linger 
William Lee - " . 
Amos Leeds 
G( nrge W. Lent 
John M. Lpsier 
H. G. Lewis 
Jo.se I'll Lyon - 
William Liipton 
S.miucl Lloyd - 
John Little 
Rii:liard Lt"^vi^■ 
Thomas H. Lyell 
P. P. Livingston 
Abra'm A.'Leggct 
Henry Liliernau 
James Ladd 
Leniy McEvers 
Geo. S. Messerve 
Joseph Y. Miller 
Alexander Ming 
Abraham Messerolf 
John Morris, Jr. 
John McGloin - 
Henry McCaddin 
Jolin McKibi'in 
William B. Motl 
Joseph Marsh - 
Georce McCready 
Wm.~i\IcLauehlin 
Georce W. Matsell 
JnhifMcGralh 
IMontM'nery Moses 
Jotm Marslon - 
James McMillan 
John J. Jlauning 
Patrick iMcCafftrty 
Donala McDonald 
Charles McDennotl 
Wm. Marshall, jr. 
D. McGraih 
Wni. C. Neilson 
S. C Nicoll - 
Gideon Ostrander, Jr. 
James M. OakU y 
iMorris Oakley 
Cornelius W. Oakely 
Jotni Orser 
Francis Ossburg 
Robert Plullips 
Napli Phillips 
Alex. V. Phister 
Abra. K. Patterson 



1,095 00 Huinp. RicUetson 

1,095 00 Jnhn Pierce 

1 ,095 00 George Rocard - 

1,095 00 Wm. H. Randall 

1,095 00 N.C.Robertson 

1.095 00 Samuel 1) Rouse 

1,095 00 James K. Roe • 

1,095 00 Henry Raymond 

1,095 00 William Shiite- 

1,095 00 Charles Stuart • 

1.095 00 William Smith 

1,095 00 Dennis Striker 

1,095 00 A SI H. Swift ■ 

1,095 00 Henry Storms ■ 

1,095 00 James Smyth - 

1,095 00 Henry F. Sands 

1.095 00 C. V. Scherinerhorne 

1,095 00 Andrew Sure - 

1,095 00 Thomas S. Stevens 

1,005 00 Daniel Sparks - 

1,095 00 John Salmon - 

1,095 00 Egbert G. Stveel, 

1,095 00 James Smith • 

1,095 00 Levi D. Shine - 

1,095 00 Peter Tappan • 

1,095 00 Prler TayhT - 

1,095 00 James T. Thomp.ion 

1,095 00 Andrew T<iinb8 

1,095 00 Thomas Trenon 

1,095 00 Griffin Tompkins 

1,095 00 William Thome 

1,095 00 James Thorne- 

1,095 00 O. H. Tompkins 

1,095 00 John Townsend 

1,095 00 Thomas W. Titus 

l,o95 00 Jotin J. Tracey 

1,095 00 Richard Tyson 

1,095 00 John Townsend, Jr. 

1, 095 00 Samuel Utter - 

1,095 00 B. M. Van Beuren 

1,095 00 J. L.- Van Boskerck 

1,095 00 John Van Dyk 

1,095 00 C. Van Antwerp 

1,095 00 T. B. Vermilyea 

1,095 00 John W. Velhake 

1,095 00 Joliii Van Dine 

1,095 00 William Welling 

1,095 00 Everasdus Warner 

1,095 00 Benjamin Wood 

1,095 00 Isaac Wood 

1,095 00 Wm. J. Wiswall 

1,095 00 John W. Wheeler 

l.o95 00 W W. Wells • 

1,095 00 :\L R. Walsh . 

1,095 00 J. W. Wesiervplt 

1,095 00 J. R. WaUiran - 

1,095 00 Thomas Wiswal 

1,095 00 Asa W. Weldran 

1,095 00 Daniel Winans 

1,095 00 William Seymocr 

1,095 00 Barnum Whipple 



1,035 00 
1,035 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
l,o95 00 
1,095 00 
1.095 00 
1,095 00 
1,09 J 00 
1,U95 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,1195 00 
1,095 CO 
I 095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,0'J5 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 on 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1.095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 OO 
1.095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,095 09 
1,095 00 
1,095 00 
1,035 00 
1,095 00 

91-: o-) 



William Angevine 
William Boardman 
Thomas Bloomar 
Francis Boss 
Bernard Conway 
Peter F.Cisco 
James Oarpenier 
Micha^-l Christal 
Samuel Doxey' - 
Philip Doyle • - 
L. Dunklev 
William V\'. Fisher 
Thomas J. Foote 
John F. Ganiz - 
Barnabas Gillespie 
Philip Gibson 
George G. Glazier 
George Gordon - 
Richard Harcourl 
Leonard D. House 
Peier Hull 



6;b -5 

USa 75 
033 75 
&S8 75 

635 75 

636 75 
638 75 
638 75 
6:«75 
638 75 

eye 75 

6:« 75 
638 75 
g:« 75 
G:*8 75 
638 75 
638 75 
638 75 
638 75 
636 75 
633 75 



NIGHT l>"SPECTOnS. 

Richard Harrold - - 638 75 

J. E. Hatfield - - 638 75 

Steplien A. Kent- - 638 75 

Christian Kramer • 638 75 

Nalhaniel Ladd - • 638 75 

James O. Ludlow - 633 75 

Lawrence Langlon ■ 638 75 

Robert Lawrence - 638 'u 

John McMahon - - 638 75 

John iMcPherson - 638 75 

Charles Miigness • 638 75 

Boltis M lore, jr. • 6)38 75 

James iNIoncrief - - 638 75 

Parker i\Iuren ■ - 638 75 

John Neafie • - 63S 75 

John Priestlv ■ - 638 75 

Alfred Palmer - 638 75 

Frederick Koome - 638 75 

Thomas Standerwick ■ 938 75 

William Spreifjhl - 638 75 

Charles K. Smith - 638 "5 



Michael Smith - 638 75 

Enoch Soper - - 6;j8 75 

Jacob B. Mesereau • 638 7b 

J. Tyson - - - 638 75 

John H. Tupsler - - 635 75 

A. J. F. Tombs - - 638 75 

Philip Tabele ■ ■ 638 75 

P. G. Turish - 638 75 

James Van Tassel • ' 638 75 

John Vandervoort • 638 75 

A. Van Olden, jr. ■ 638 75 

John E. Wootl - ■ 638 75 

Samuel Wood ■ • 563 S7 

William Wason - 633 75 

William Whitlev • 638 75 

Zophan Wcxxi - • 638 75 

William WoodhuU - 638 75 

Amos Warring - ■ 638 73 

James G. Vales - ■ 6^ 75 

G. B. Wooldridge 63'» 75 



Alexander Bleeker • UtJS 56 

Jprefiiiah Brower • 2,697 64 

William ECruger - 1,1 « -10 

E. H Dp Camp - 1,796 05 

Robert Dumont - 3,670 15 

John Franklin - 2,-:;5-} 21 



BpHJamin Fuller • 3,0^ 4-t 

Thimias W. Garniss ■ 1.150 IJ 

A. C. H iighlon - 2,332 51 

Thomas Morris - l,o<iS 62 



WEIGUt.HS. 

Thomas Hazard 
Siep. B. HotTmaiii 
Thomas Kirk - 
Lewis Louirel - 
CharlFs Mills - 
John \V. I akley 

GATOEHS.* 

Alex. MIn.q, jr. 
Ellas Nexspn, jr. 
William Ryer - 
Henry E.KIell - 

MEASinEnS.' 

jKSpph Hopkins 
G. W. McPhcrsjn 
George Nixon - 
Lemuel Pin man 
J. J. B. Rowan - 
J. W Kichariison 
Henry C. Sperry 



John Alwaise - - 2,013 5^1 

Jacob D. Cluie - - 1,911 71 

William Durell - 1,7S0 72 

J. AV. Forbf8 - - 1,712 83 

Kdmund Filch - 1,683 57 

W.M. Hitchcock - 1.734 16 

William Hagodon - 1,636 49 

G. H. Richards, Deputy Inspector of Revenue or Marker 

Marcus Sears do do 

Allan M Sniften do do 

John J. Plume, Assistant Collector 

Hiram Perry, Surveyor - . - - ■ 

Ely Moore, Surxeyor .... 

S. Brewsier, Deputy Surveyor . • ■ ■ 

.4ndrew A. Jones, 'Jhief Clerk - . - - 

E. H. Sears, Second Clerk - ■ - - 

Charles F. Lineback,rhird Clerk 

William Froment, Fourth Clerk 

James W. Carpenter, Fifth Clerk 

B. Davenixirt, Messenger and Porter 

William S. C'oe, Naval" Officer - - - - 

George W. Coe, Deputy Naval Officer - 



Ellas B. Dayton - - l,-200 

John Cockle • . - 1 ,050 

M. H. Van Dvck - - 1,050 

Samuel Van Wyck - 1,050 

Samcon M. Isaacks - 1,050 

George 'VV^ Gaiilz - - 1,050 

Samuel H. Moore - - 1,050 



I, -264 42 
2,596 82 
1,996 00 
2,560 02 
2.516 77 
1,566 69 



2,238 13 
2,118 65 
2.723 42 
■ifi-Zo 12 



1,6IS 3! 
1,620 68 
1353 11 
1,925 64 

1.738 ee 

1,677 03 
1,664 41 



John M. Patuson 
David Ponre 
George Sibell - 
Ji'hn Sickles - 
James Wesiervell 



John Tuomy • 
Edward C. fhrtisuin 
.\. J. Walker ■ 
T. P. Walworth 



Alfred G. Stevens 
John M. Thorne 
J. B. Vanderpool 
Jacob .M. Vreelaud 
E.J. McCarthy 
Garrit T. Bran 
Robert Gourlay 



CLEXIKS. 




Wade Hough 


. 1.050 


.\Mjah Insraham 


- 1,050 


Joshua S- Bowne 


900 


John V. Largee 


900 


Francis D. SAvords 


- 900 


Wm. C. Thompson 


- 000 



Timothy F. Cooke 
Joseph Crosthw-aite 
Jeremiah Green 
Richard Kidney, jr 
Ji'hn H. Robins 
W. B. Rhodes, Porter 



3,1.32 bO 
2,156 77 
3,463 06 
■2,036 S! 
2,317 99 



2,313 08 
l,9c6 60 
3,059 o9 
3,960 50 



1,110 16 

1,S;9 92 

1,779 47 

l,S-29 40 

753 63 

47 49 

• 1,767 00 

81.6;i7 00 
I,-2S5 65 
1,829 65 
1,0(0 00 
150 Oe 
2.90O0O 
1.500 00 

1.150 no 

1.150 00 
S50 00 

1.000 00 
7t> 00 
600 00 

3,000 oa 

1.500 00 



90(r 
900 
600 
600 
375 
3D0 



"A formidable list, indeed!" as said Mr. Bf.ntox and his committee in 1826 of the 
List of Oliicersof thai day. An astotjnding list ! say we. Ijonk at the regiment of names 
comprised in the above enumeration I Look at the great amount of public money distrib- 
ut' d amono: them ! Compare this exhibit with that of the vilified (and fal.-iified) Admin- 
istration of Mr. Ad.ams, and mark the diflerence! In Mr. Ai).«.ms's time the whole nu-n- 
ber of oificers employed in the collection of the customs (excluding the officers of the reve- 
nue cutter and the light-house keepers, not included in the lute enumeration) was onr 
hundred and sixty six, and the aggregate amount of their compensations about one hun- 
dred and tuenty thousand dollars .• on the SOth of September last, the number of officers 
employed in the same duty was, as the reader will dis^covcr by counting them, rovn hck- 
DREP AND Eir.HTT-Kiuirr, and the amount of their salaries (in round ntimhers) about nvt 
HCNDREn AND FoiiTY THocs.tM) DoLL.vHs.j Hcrcwe have an ariihnietical demonstration 
of the true difference of value between profession and practice — between the aristocracy and 
extravagance uf the .\dmini.xtration of .Mr. J. Q. .^d.a.ms, and the pemocract and be- 
VEHE EcosoMT of that of Mr. Vax Ui-rkx. Do politicians ever blush ! Do they ever 
hang their heads for shame 7 After this exposition of the utter lalsity of all the preten- 
sions of his parly, how dare any Si'oils-.m.v\ look an honest People in the face ? 

We will, however, spare the reader any commentary of our own upon the profusion 
and waste of |)ublic money which is disclosed in the preceding statement; nor will we de- 
\M\\ him by expatiating upon the obvious intent and pur|)ose of such a multi|)lication of 
pensioners upon the Ciovcrnmcnt in the city of New York, where parlies are known to be 

[•The sums to the Wrii:hi'n«, Gaucers, Mexsurers, and Markers are here put down asieeubly to the 
reiurna of those officers for the fees on the cargoes of vessels which arrived during the year : but each officer 
nf his class nceivesan equal division of the a^'gregate amount of fees of that class. 

tSki far, lie it observed, fmm this increase of Government patronage and exjienditure being demanded by 
an augmentation of the customs, the revonie is the fact. The revenue from the customs has greatly fallen 
off since 1K26. 



r.o nearly dividcJ tha*. ihe addilion or reduction of a scoii; or two of rufatoin-houfer officrra 
might somctimt-s (.'t'cide the fate of an election. We lind a coinmcnfury befwe the fact 
in the remarks with which Mr. Bkntoi? accompanied h7? exposition of the dangers of Ex- 
ecutive patronage, at a time vi'hen it was at least kejtt within some bound.s. No one can 
read the following passages of the Kcport without being struck by the wondcrfuily pro- 
phetic spirit which pervades them : 

" To be able lo show Ui llie Senate a full and perfect view nf thn power and workings of Federal palron- 
agp, the commillee addn ssed a note, imiiK diately afiei- ibey were charged « i;h this inriiiiry, to each of thw 
lieparimtnis, and to the Posliuaster Genenil, reqtieslin;: lo be iufornied of the whole number of persons em- 
ployei!, and the whole anuuinl of money paid om, under the d irect ion of their reppeclive dep;miTients. The 
answers received are lierewith subniiiied, and made part of this report. With the Blub Hook, they will 
discover enough to show that ihe prediction.s of those who were not Mind to the defects of the Constitulioii 
are ready lo be realized : Ilial the power and intluence of Fcdeiul patronage, contrary to the ar^unienl in 
the ' /■\(/6)a/!s/,' is an overmatch for the rower and influence of .V/o/e pairoiiaee ; that its workinffswill 
contaminate tlie purily of all elertions, and enalile the Federal Government, eventually, lo govern ihrodgh- 
out the Slates, as erteciually as if they were so many provinces (.if one vast empire. 

'• The whole of thi.s great power will centre in thePresiJent. The King of England is the ' fountain of 
honor ;' the President of the United States is the source of patronage. He presides over the entire system of 
Federal appiiintmenis, jol*, and contracts. He has ' power' over the 'support' of the individuals who ad- 
minister the system. H.o makes and unmakes them. He chiises from the circle of his friends and .fuppon- 
ers; and may dismiss them, and, upon all the principles of human action, will dismiss them, as often as they 
disappoint his e.xpectations. His spirit will animate their actions in all the elections to State and Federal 
offices. Tliere may be exceptions, but the truth of a seneral rule is proved by the excct>tion. The intend- 
ed check and control of the Senate, without new constitutional or statutory provisions, will cease to oi>erate. 
Patronaire will penetrate this body, subdue its capacity of resistance, chain it to the car of power, and ena- 
ble the President to rule as easily, and much more securely withi(lhan without, the nominal check of the 
Senate. If the President was himself the officer of the People, eu'cled by them, and responsible to them, 
there would be le.-s.s daiiL'er from this concentration of all power in his hands; but it is the business of stales 
men to act upon thinss as they are, and not as they woulJ wish them to Ije. AVe must then look forward lo 
the lime when ihe public revenue will be douljled ; when the civil and military officers of the Federal Go- 
vernment will be quadrupled, [they have Ijeen already all bulqnailrupled without wailing for the increase 
of revenue ;] when its influence over individuals will be multiplied to an indefinite extent; when the 
nomination by the President can carry any man through the .Senate, and his recommendation can carry 
any meaiiure throuL'li the two Houses of Congress; when the principle iif pulOic action will be open and 
avowed, the President wants my vote, and I want his patronage; 1 will vole as he wishes, and he will givB 
me the office I wish for. What will this be but the Governtiieiit of one man? and what is ihe Govern- 
ment of one man Imt a monaichij f Names are iMihing. The nature of a thing is in its substance, and llie 
name soon accomodates itself to the substance."' 

'' Those who make the Presideiil must siii>|)orl him. Their political fate becomes idenlitied, and they 
must stand or fall together. Right or wTonu, they must suiiport nira ; and if he is made contrary to the will 
of the people, he must be supported not only by votes and speeches, but liy arms." 

We have thus seen, by one illustration, what soil of confidence is due lo the professions, 
by the ruling party in the Government, of (hinvcraci/, ccono/iiy, c\-c. JVor will it be in 
thp power of the party to shelter itself behind Congress, and, as is their wont, throw the 
bfanie on the Legislature for having forced this exjienditure upon ihe Executive against its 
will. This is an expenditure which (Congress has had no hand in. It is one for which 
Congress is not callfd upon to make appropriations, because the salaries Are paid out of 
Ike revenue before it rtachts the Treasury. 'I'his list of officeholders, therefore, with its 
long array of salaries aiid emoluments, never passes under the review of Congress at all. 
The compensation of Ins[)ectors, Weighers, &c., is indeed iixed by law, but the number 
is dependent on the unrestrained will and pleasure of the Executive ; no account is render- 
ed to Congress whether, after beiiisj appointed and salaried, they really do daily duty in 
their places, or spend their time in electioneering lo maintain their ein})loycrs in power. 
•Some of them, it is notorious, perform little more official duty than the signing receipts for 
their salaries, their ujorc important duties being those of taking care of the interests of 
" the party" at home and abrou'', the city of New York being too narrow a field for their 
useful labors. I'ducation to and adaption for their ostensible employments are by no 
means indispensable requisites lor employments in the cuslom-hoiise. If they had been, 
Samuel Swahtwoct would never, by having the grave and highly responsible office of 
Collector of the port of New York thrust upon him, have been subjected to the temptation 
of embezzling for his share a niillion and a quarter of dollars of the public money. 

Nor is it liy their personal services and influence alone that the officers of the cti>lonis 
are expected lo help "the party" at the polls. Of the amount received from the public 
chest in the shape of emoluments of office they are expected lo pay back into the party 
fund a pro rata amount for electioneering purposes. This was in evidence before the 
commillee appointed two years ago to investigate the defalcations in the New York Cus- 
tom-house; and, as leaders are apt lo forget things which they have only casually or cur- 
sorily read, we turn lo the report of that invesiigaiion, in order lo refresh Ihe reader's 
memory by the following extracts from the evidence taken before the committee, establi^h- 
ing the fact of the taxation for pnrly operatiiins to which ihe customhouse officers in New- 
York are subjected. 



Ajient S. Depeystzk examined. 

Quetiion. While you were connected wiih the cus cm-hmise, do you know whether or not the officers of 
the customs were called upon lf> pay ajur pan ul their salaries, or any assessment or tax thereon, for (jany or 
political purposes ! If yea, sute wheiBw you have ever, and when you have, made any such payment ; and 
state the motive upon which sucli ijavrnenis were made. 

Answer. 1 he weighers were calleil on to pay fifteen dollars each for the support of the election : and when 
I declined, Mr. Vairderp<,>el, the deputy surv'-yor, observed that I ought to consider whether my gl^OO per 
annum was n^t worth paying fifteen ilfUars fur. Uiult-r the impression that it was the price of my siiualion, 
1 puiil It. The above occurred during the last spring election for cliaaer officers. 

During my holding office, for about live years, I was occasionally called on, but always declined until 
wiiliiii the li'isi two yiars. 

Question. Do you know whether other subordinate officers besides yourself, in the custom-house, were 
culled on and required to pay such lax or assessment upon their salaries, for the use of party and political 
purposes 1 

Auswer. Only by hearsay, as it regards the other officers ; Lut I saw many of the weighers pay the tax of 
fifleen d'llUrs. 

QuesiioM. Was the money thus collected from you and others to be used for political purpoees? If yea, 
for which of the then and piesent political parties ' 

Answer. It was intended to be used to supiwrt theelectionof persons attached to the present administration. 

Abraham B. Vanderpoel examined. 

Question. Do you know whether the officers of the custiim-house have ever been called on to contribute 
sums of money to ))arly and (mlitical objects'! what officers have been sj called on ; by whom, for what 
amount i with or without regard to iheir salaries of i.ffice; when did they contribute; i) they refused, was 
any intimation given that tlieir refusal might occasion their removal ; what amount has been so contributed 
or Collected, and for the su[iport of what parly, at any one e'.ection ? 

This interrogatory was olyecied to by .Mr. Foster. 

Mr. Foster called fur the yeas and nays. 

The question. Shall the interrogatory hB^propounded ? w.is put, and decided in the affinnalivp. 

Yeas— Messrs. Curtis, Dawson, >larlan,^inith. Wise— 5. 

Nays— Messrs. Foster, Owens, Wageiier— 3. 

Other proceedinas were had, in regard to which Mr. V.'ise offered the following resolution: 

Resolved, That the following facts be entered on the journal : 

Mr. \\ ise propounded to the'witness, Abraham B. Vanderpoel, the following question, to wit 

Question. Do you know whether the officers of the custom-house have ever been called on to contribute 
sums of money to party and political objects: whai officers have so been called upon ; by whom, for what 
amount; with or without regard to their salaries of office ; when did they contribute ; if they refused, was 
any intimaiion eiven that their refusal might occasion their removal ; what amount has so been contributed 
or collected, and for the support of what party, at any one election t 

The witness took the interrogatory, witnoui objection to propiunding the same, and proceeded to write hi£ 
answer thereto on the paper aiiaclied to the quesiion ; and liau wriileu the followine, to wit : 

" I have known officers attached to the custom-house to have been called on for"— when ]\Ir. Owens, mem- 
ber of the committee, interposed and informed the witness that he was not iKjund to answer any iiiierrv>ga- 
tory relating to liis private affairs; and thereupon I\Ir. Foster, another member of the conunillee, objected t« 
pr-ppounding the interrogatory. The witness here cuinmenciU to lear off « hat he had written before obj-'c- 
lion was made to the iniernigalory. Mr. AVise prevented him from doing so, by forbidding the act. Mr. Fos- 
ter insisted that the witness had the right to lear off what he had written, and that it was not bis answer un- 
til it was complete and handed in, and he asked the witness whether it waa his answer, and he replied, " it 
was not :'' and the committee having decided that the interrogatory should be propounded, the said quesllen 
by Mr. Wise was again handed to the witness, and he returned the following : " I decline to answer the 2d 
question." The witness was then permitted to retire. 

Mr. Curtis CcP-lled for the yeas and nays ; and the resolution was adopted. 

Yeas— Messrs. Curtis, Dawson, Foster, Harlan, Owens, Smith, Wagener, Wise — 8. 

\ays— None. 

David S. Lyon examined. 

Question. Whilst you were deputy collector at the ptirtof New York, were you ever called on, as an Officer 
of the custom- house, to contribute anv sum or sums of money to party or pi'liiical objects ^ If so, what amount ? 
Was such amount, from you, called for in consideration ol your salar)- from Government ! What proportion 
did it bear to your salary ! Did you («iy it ! If not, w hy not ? Who called for such contributions .' Were other 
subordinates in the customhouse, to your knowledge, called on to contribute in like manner ! For the sup- 
port of what party were ihrse coniributions called for ! Was any menace, directly or indirectly, of removal, 
held over these officers or yourself, for failures to grant such contributions ' 

Mr. Owens objected to the interrogatory. 

The question. Shall the interrogatory be propounded ? was put, and decided in the uffinnative, the yea» 
.ind nays having been called for by Mr. Owens. 

Yeas— Messrs. C'unis, Dawson, Harlan, Smith, Wise— 5. 

Nays— Mes.Nrs. Owens. Wagener— 2. 

Answer. I have frequently been called on to contribute to political objects while I was deputy collector, as 
Hii I'ffiier iif the tuslomhouse. The amount was from twenty dollars to one hundred dollars. The tax was 
pio tola, at cording to salary. It bore a proportion of from one to six per cent. I frequently paid a y^n of the 
amount ; when it was too high, and more than I could afford. I urged them to reduce il. In one instance, 
where I was assessed twenty dollars, INIr. Swartwout told the collector of ihe tax thai ten dollars was 
enough for me to pay. For a lew years back 1 have noi paid anv thing to the seneral committee, because I 
couUinnt affird in )iay the annmnl asses-sed, and because I could not conscicnti msly longer stislaiii the jvir- 
ty. The collectors I'f ihe Tammany Hall general committee, one of whom was John Becker, called on me 
several limes. William Tyack once or twice called on me tii collect the amount with which 1 was asses- 
sed: he was not the regular collector, but was one of the general coiiimiliee. 1 believe that nearly all ihe 
olTicprs oflhe cusiomhoiise, in d mrs and out, anil the clerks, were similarly taxed, and generally paid what 
they were assessed. Il was assessed by Ihe cenenil commillee of Tammany Hall, and for the supjxirt of the 
party denominated the Tammany Hall party. 11 the inilividual did not imy the amount he wns ijxed with, 
the collerlor would remark, '• You will be repjried lo Ihe general conmiiliee ■'' and every Ivdy well under- 
stood that proscription wliould f>llow. The collector of tlie penenil committee has an alphaL>eiical book, 
which contains the names of persons taxed, and the amount each individual is required to fay. 

Wp have continnd our examination of the growth anil rxtent of Executive patronage 
unil»T our prrf-ent tinil Lite riilors to the IS'ew York Custom- hou.^r, only hcctiuse it was thr 



case selected for illustration by themselves fourteen years ago. We have little doubt that 
correspondent extravagance would, u|ion examination, be found to exist in other branches 
of the public service. In the Indian Department, for cxujnple, it is believed the most cor- 
rupt practices have j)revailed, and the most extravagant and wasteful expenditures have 
been made, especially in the making and executing of treaties. At this moment, it is as- 
serted, there are hundreds of lliousands of dollars of Indian apjiroj)riaiions unaccounted for, 
in the hands of iiulividuals, who have had the gratuitous use of it, some of them for a num- 
ber of years. 

Cut Mr. Bf.\to\"s committee did not confine thciiiselves exclusively to the exjicnditures 
of the New York Custom house. They obtained from the several great public offices at 
the seat of Government accounts of their contingent expenditures, in priming and advertis- 
ing, &c. Upon these they did not, in their report, pass any direct censure. Nor, in 
truth, was there any room for it. Under no Administration up to that of (iencral .Iack- 
soN, had the Executive patronage of the press been regarded as the means of purchasing, 
hiring, or retaining political partisans. A certain amount of printing and advertising was 
done under the orders of dilVerent public offices, because it was indispensable to the con- 
duct of the puMic business, and it was paid for at no higher or other rates than individuals 
are obliged to pay for similar services. Except in an honorary point of view, the custom 
of the Government w.i.';, for a great many years after our first acquaintance with it, any 
thing but desirable to publishers of newspa[)ers. 

Mr. BiiNTON and Mr. Vax Bvhen had, however, in all probability, other views of this 
matter, when they called for the names of all printers employed to do business for the dif- 
ferent |)u!'lic offices, with the amounts paid to each, (which were not then, as they now 
are, included in the Blue Book.) It is certain, at least, that other views of the subject 
were entertained by the political confederates of those gentlemen in the year following, 
when a debate of three weeks' duration took place upon the expediency of changing the 
mode of designating the newspapers in which the laws shall be published ; it being by law, 
at that time, as it is now, and with obvious propriety, the duty of the Secretary of .State 
to make such designation. The number of pul>lishers of the laws to be so designated vvas 
and still is fixed by law; and the amount of compensation (also fixed by law) which so 
roi!sed the jealousy of the pretended democracy of that day as to incite them to a system- 
atic war upon it, does not exceed an average of one hundred dollars a year for each pres^, 
not more than is annually paid by many persons in the private ways and walks of life for 
their individual advertising. 

This enormous patronage of the press savored too much of Executive influence for the 
taste of the disinteiestcd patriots in Congress, who had combined their wits to wrest the 
" barren sceptre" of power from the hands of Mr. Ada^is, and turn it to a more profitable 
use in their own. It is even sup[)osed that the allusion in the Inaugural Address of Gen- 
eral Jackson to ''the patronage of the Government" being brought "in conflict with the 
freedom of elections" had reference to this branch of Executive patronage; an idea ludi- 
crous enough, certainly, when we consider for a moment what was afterwanls the practice 
of his administration, from its first start, when he a[ipointed Amos Kemjall and other 
party printers to some of the best offices of the Government, dovi'n to his testamentary act 
on retiring from office, by which he imposed as a duty upon his successor in office the pat- 
ronage and sujiport of the press which he had established at the seat of Government, and 
supported by the means of Executive patronage lavished upon it by every conduit under 
his control. However that may he, the alleged danger to public liberty from the immense 
patronage of the press wielded by the Secretary of State became, in the early part of the 
year 1827, the subject of one of the most excited debates that had ever occurred in the 
Representative Chamber. The ground of the debate thus brought on by the 0[)position 
of that day was the fact that the Secretary of State had changed the publishers of the laws 
in ten cases out of the whole list of publishers, which was seventy -nine. 

It is truly ludicrous, again, that the House of Representatives, 

" Like Ocean into lempesl loss'd 
" To wafl a feaihrr or lo drown a fly,'' 

should have been thrown into a ferment by so moderate an exercise of his legal discretion 
by the Secretary of State, when it is notorious that these same pretended democrats, when 
they got into power, changed the entire list of publishers 'of laws with a single dash of ih'e 
pen, and would as soon have thought of being inoculated for the plague as of employing 
any man in any trust in the Government who was not aapurdi/ democratic as themselves. 
But so it was. On the 1st of February, 1827, came up for consideration the following 
resolution, moved by Mr. Salndehs, of North Carolina, (the discomfited candidate for 
Oovernor of that State at the late election :) 



10 

*^ Resolved, That ihfr Secrrtarv of Slate communicate to this House a list of sucli cf the newspapers in 
each uf the States in which tlie laws of CoiiErefs were directed to Ije published in the years lfJ25 and ISSB 
Also, a list if such in which the laws are directed ui be published in ISl', designating the changes which 
have lieen made, and the reasjn for each change." 

In support of this resolution Mr. Sacxdf.rs affirmed that "the gentleman now at the 
head of the Stale Department has been guilty of selecting papers more for political and 
[leroonal objects ihan to give the greatest puliliciiv to the laws," d:c. This was the gist of 
the argumciu of the o[ip;)sition throughout the debate. 

" The elfeci I'f such a course of things (3Ir. Saunders said) was calculated to operate, not only on those 
who nnw print the laws, but on all those who niishl have any desire to print them. By seeing those re- 
warded who had shown the men zeal in priMmiting the Secretary's views, they w.uld iiaim-ally be taught 
to infer that if they displayed a zeal still more ardent they should have it conferred ufion ihem. 

" it was thus cMlculated to I'perate, and did actually operate, sj far as il went, t) control the freedom of the 
press, and to enlist thruu-ihout the cuuntry thai powerful instrunieiil in behalf of the views of the Stale De- 
partment. In this res|*cl il was much more effectual and much more dani;eious than the far-famtd alien 
and seililion tutcs. The |in>visioiis uf ihuse laws were direct and tangible. They were open and seen of 
all ; but ihe power to w^ich he 'tUuded operated directly, but was not seen so to operate.'' 

It was (he opinion of the party leaders of that day that the Executive was bound to give 

reasons for appoinlmpiits and removals from tfBce. [How utterly repugnant to the notionsj 

of the same party, now in potvcr !] 

"If (said Mr. Houston in this debate) the head of the Uepartinent haa an'y cause to show which will 
iustify the course— the very extraordinary course— he has adopted, the House will, no doubt, be satisfied ; and 
(I ubtless if he has suili reasons to itroduce, he will not hesitate to lay them bef>re us. But if he is to remain 
totally irresponsiblt — if his robe is not so much as to lie lnuched — if his person is sanctified, and he has all 
the iiifallibillty of the Pope— then, sir, let this House and this People talk no longer of their privileges." 

Mr. Polk (now Governor of Tennessee) took an active part in this ij-/-ea/ debate. He 

was particularly iudigiiaiit that the Secretary of JState should have taken his patronage of a 

hundred dollars a year frou) one publisher in Teiniessee and given it to another, &c. 

" ThoU2h wo have no alien and sedition laws, (said .Mr. PoLK,)are we tohave what iii tantamount to them ' 
Are the plibllc functit naries of the Government to be wrapl up in the robes of olBce. and to be held irresjxjn- 
slble to the Peo[ile or the Feojile's Representatives ' And are all those who have firmness and ludep< nd 
ence enough fearlessly to Inquire into the conduct of public men. and the manner In which the public 
money is expended, to be denounced, by the partisans and ser\ lie adherents of the House ibai now reiens, 
as factious oppusilionisis ;'' 

Mr. HovsTOX, however, next to Mr. Sauxders, seems lo have been the chief speaker 

on the opposition side in this debate. In reply Ij the very natural astonishmeiU expressed 

by soine of the Rc])ublican?, that .-o violent a storm should have raged durinj the morning 

hours of three whole weeks upon so insignificant a provocation, Mr. H. spoke us follows: 

" Bui gentlemen affect no wonder how it happens thai this is the only vigilant o|.po8ition which has hatl 
for its olijecl the reform of ihe Government. He asks, where stoud the sentinels on the ranip|art3 in times 
past 7 Sir, there never existed, befnre the |'resenl,a more momentotis peril d to ihe'American I'eople 
There never was a greater necessity fur resisting the encroachmenus of Executive power, which atteuifits to 
prostrate, by the voice of Its organs on this flocir, every vestige of Stale independence which cannol be sapped 
by more secret means. Sir, when sovereign States of this Union ate openly threatened, in their legislative 
capacity, and the Representaves of .States openly admonished on this floor that if they act ' it will te attheii 
peril ;' thus, sir, when all of liberty thai cannol be undermined by the vast and still sweluxo tide of 
Executive PARONAOE is to be overcome by open violence, have we not abundant reason lo lixjk out from 
the watch-tower V 

Of this debate we have (]uoted enough lo show the great alarm manifested by the oppo 
ncnts of the Adams .\dministratiim at the extent of Executive patronage, in connexion 
with the press, and their invincible repugnance to any use of that patronage which could, 
by any presui>iptii)i>, be Iraced to a party motive. 

Let us next see what was (he actual exteii( of expendituri-, at the (ime referred to, under 
the direction of Executive cfficer.-, for news[)apeis, advertising and priming. In this ca^e, 
as in the case of the Custom house expenditures, we prefer, with Mr. 13e>ton's commit- 
tee, lo select a single department of the Government for exandnation ; and, in making (ho 
selection, we make choice of that one in which the expenditures were entirely discretion- 
ary, and regulated aiiJ controlled by no law. We mean the 1'ost Okvice Dkpaiitmext. 

Among the documents obtained from the several Departments, and presented to the Sen- 
ate by the committee to show (he extent of Executive patronage, was a report from Post 
master General McIjEax, dated Hth of March, 1S26, from which we make the following 
extract : 

" Tlif printing of the Uepartnient, not Including the publication of pro|visals for mail contracts, I u the 
year lt*i3, amounted to gi,567 52; In the following year to g-2.97'3 45 ; and in ihe year ISiS, ti> 8i"-,466 -IS. In 
this year, the amount wag greatly Increased by the printing of alHuii ten thousand pamphlets, conuiiniiig a 
stuiement of the Post OlFices, lie. and aUmt the same number of the Post Olfice laws, instructions, icc. 

" The Huiount paid for the publication of proposals, as also the papers in which such polluiiions were 
iiuide, will appear from the impers cnch^^d, to which Ihe committee are respecifully referro.', '" 



11 



Lid of Post Offices where advertisements were publhhed, by order of the Postmaster 

General, in 1825. 



Post Offices. 



Cahavvba, AlabaniK 
Colunibin, Soulh Cdiuliria - 
Fiaiiktbrt, Kpiitiicky 
Indianapulis, Indiana 
Jackson, Mississippi 
Jefferson city, Missouri 
Little Kock, Arkansas Territory 
Milleilgevillc, Georgia 
Miirfreeshoro', Tennessee - 
Raleigh, North Carolina - 
Richmond, Virginia 
Pensacola, Florida Territory 
Vincennes, Indiana 
Annapolis, Maryland 
Harrishurg, Pennsylvania - 
Trenton, New Jersey 

Washington City - 

Albany, New York 
Canandaigua, New York - ' 

Boston, Massachusetts 
Columbus, Ohio - 
Concord, New Hampshire 
Dover, Delaware - 
Muntpt'lier, Vermont 
Portland, Maine - 
Harford, Connecticut 



Name of Newspaper or Publisher. 



Account not rendered. 

Telescope 

Dana and Halcrinaii 

Douglas and Maguire 

Account not rendered. 

Ditto. 

Ditto. 

Cainak and Kagland 

Account not rendered. 

Raleigh Register - 

Account not rendered. 

Pensacola Gazette 

Elisha Stout 

Account not rendered. 

in Pa. Intelligencer, 3d qr. 

in Tren. T. American, do. 

National Intelligencer 

National Journal - 

Daily Ad. «fc Gaz., .3d qr. 

D. C. Miller 
J. A. Stevens 
Patriot, 3d qr. 
Ohio Monitor, 3d qr. 
Account not rendered. 
Ditto. 

E. P. Walton, pub., 3d qr. 
Todd & Smith, do do 
Goodwin & Co. do do 



Amount paid. 


$3.5 
63 
20 


32 

374, 

00 



43 7S 



40 00 



45 


00 


32 


00 


39 


00 


12 


00 


690 


00 


714 


00 


66 


30 


80 


50 


SO 


50 


18 


75 


29 


25 


19 


05 


18 


75 


11 


20 


S2,056 67 



The expense of /jn«/i;?g for three years preceding 1826, it appears, amounted to 
$12,007 42— or, averaging the years, "to $4,002 47 (say four thousand dollars) a year. 
The cost of ac/c6)-^/s!'??i,'Yor the single year immediately preceding 1826 was $2,056 67— 
the greater part of that sum being paid for the long advertisement of Proposals for^ carry mg 
the mails, published annually in two newspapers at ihe seat of Government. 'J'his wa^ 
the whole e.Ktent of Executive patronage dispensed to the press through the agency of the 
Post Office Department at the date of Mr. Benton'j report. Yet this amount of expen- 
diture for advertising was regarded with so jealous and distrustful an eye by Messrs. BK^•- 
Tos- and Van Buhe'n, that of the objects proposed by the bills which thai committee re- 
ported for the purpose of " trimming down the powers of the Executive by statutory enact- 
ments," one was "to regulate the publication of public advertistmenis." 

Let us now turn to the Blue Book, and see what reduction in this description of pub- 
lic expenditure has been effected under the administration of Mr. Van Buuex, and how 
far by such reduction the sphere of Executive inffuence has been contracted. And what 
do we find in reference to this matter in the Blue Book I We could hardly credit the 
evidence of our own senses ; and our readers, we are sure, will partake of our astonish- 
m-^nt when they read the following account of the frugal and economical rate of expendi- 
ture, for advertising, especially, which has been subslitutec^ by this democratic Administra- 
tion for the pretended extravagance and prodigality of the aristocratic Administration upon 
•whose fall Mr. Vax Birk>? ro«e into power. Here is the proof of it : 



12 



FROM THt OFFICIAL REGISTF.H 

^'ames of all Printers employed by the Post Office Department, v.-tth the Compemation 
allowed to each, for one year, ending 3otk September last. 



S. Eichelbereer 
Hark Jc Roee'rs • 
Guieu & Thompson 
Gaines 6i ."Murray 
William Wallers 
H. B. Grigsliy • 
D. Briiwif 
H. A. Mitchell. 
-Mifflin <Sc Parry 
Hoi lis it Bennett 
Bclser & Farmer 
P. Allen <5c Son 
Tlioinas Kilchie 
Tlmmas Lorins 
D. Blocker ^ • 
Park k Rogers - 
Beals & Green • 
H. Haines 
Jiis. H Campbell 

0. Eiclif-lberger 
-Vallian Hale" - 

1. N. Cardozo - 
H. A. Mitcliell ■ 
^lorrill &. Dinsniore 
John Busk 
:\I. S|nV)n^r 
David Brown ^- 
H. H. Griasi.y - 
Forsyth & Kibby 
Guieu & ThoiiifBon 
W. C. Brvani & Co, 
Ihonias Loring 
Kdward J. Hale 
L. E. Thon)p3on 
Pennik Elliot - 
W. E. Woodaiff 
R. C. Green 
Geo. W. WtKKi - 
W. A. Hawlev - 
D. C. Goodaleac J.Cobt 
Lawson Giffird 

C. E. Barileit ■ 
Knowies& Hutchins 
J no. C. Has we 11 
Rn^lish, Brown & Lind 

say 
Will. E. Woodnifl" 
Jno. A. Stuan - 
P. Allen &Sou 
Uolden &, Applelon 
Fisk &. Cunningham 



L-^mounl paid fur ad 

♦643 50 Marslon tc Barker 

701 2j (juartiis Graves 

564 77 Thoina.s Lorine 

120 00 A. Greenleaf, jr. 

42 00 Rix & Whitiemore 
825 00 J. S. C. Kiiowlion 
175 50 Osiwrn &, Baldwin 

7 61 L. E. Thompson 

32 75 L. & F. Gifl'.rd 

3 75 P. Dean Carrique 
116 50 Brill Jc Brown - 

4 00 "Wm. C. Brvant 
36 00 O. H. Wells • 

35 Ofl Albon Chase 
4 00 K. H. Stanton • 

76 50 Geo. R. Weber - 

43 62 Smith &. Robinson 

34 13 Beals & Green - 
85 no Jno. F. Hubbard 
31 25 Letcher &Gillock 

12 75 Pray k Thomraon 
609 68 Wm. B Anderson 

27 .50 Joel M. Smith - 

4 00 Daniel Bradlord 

19 50 Wm. Walters - 

7 25 J. Weniwonh - 

52 50 Karnes & Ba.«seil 

•15 00 D. W Whiiehurst 

232 50 W. W. Leland ■ 

68 84 Jno. i\I. Tillois<in 

31 50 Campbell it Wilson 

13 75 W. H. Gray - 
12 00 Brown & Lindsay 

33 25 Noonan & Sholes 

36 50 G. S. Gilbert 

12 50 Joseph Justice - 
6 25 Besancon &. Halidav . 

10 00 Thomas Ritchie ' ■ 

3 50 Benj. Hayes - 

13 58 Edw. Cole 

25 CK) J. Livingston 
60 00 Cyrus Barton - 

210 00 Bishop &,Winslow 

90 00 Prentiss & Weising 

er, Penn 
10 no and 

26 00 Zim & .Miller 

37 85 Hale k Eaton - 
26 67 Mitchell & Burr 

35 00 P. Woodson, jr. 

36 25 Penn & Elliott - 



iss & Weising ■) 
Penn & Elliot, > 
1 J. K. Brown J 



S. Modarv & Bro^■ 
Mifflin k Parry 
Beals !l Green - 
Cyrus Barton • 
S. Penn, jr. 
Piine k Clark • 
Ja iie<i Rice 
.Aljfflin k Parry 
Beals & Green • 
Cyrus Barton - 
S. Medary k Br.js. 
S. Penn, jr. 

[Note. -This list, 
publishers of the (jlo: 
as other probable om 



[Amount paid f.ir printi 

■ 81,9-19 23 Paine & Clark - 
531 25 James Rice, jr. ■ 

• 2,164 41 S. Penn, jr. 

556 11 J. I llioi- 

4.35 67 .Mifflin & Parry 

Sii 02 S. .Medarv k Bros. 

19 50 Beals & Green ■ 

450 87 S. Penn, jr. 

- 4,846 00 Paine & Clark • 

645 10 Cyrus Banon - 

■ 1.642 24 James Rice 
271 00 S. Penn, jr. 

large as it is, must yet be incomplete, 
bo bring entirely omitted. The reader 
issions, and add to the rest] 



vertising.] 


830 34 


34 10 


29 75 


32 55 


26 94 


600 


■S 40 


2- 00 


100 00 


31 35 


3:3 M 


■15 lit 


24 37 


40 0-1 


35 62 


25 00 


41 42 


40 00 


50 no 


25 00 


52 27 


*1 50 


48 33 


54 37 


90 00 


69 75 


91 06 


22 50 


72 50 


30 SI 


45 00 


97 00 


57 50 


25 00 


15 00 


46 50 


72 50 


49 50 


.50 62 


52 50 


40 00 


36 00 


26 25 


21 00 


50 00 


70 00 


,=;o 47 


62 50 


97 75 


ng blanks.] 


8733 45 


319 12 


555 83 


500 00 


846 75 


1,079 67 


1.633 60 


199 00 


713-23 


699 07 


371 25 


556 73 



H. C. Bunce ■ 


8-35 00 


J as. Clark k Co. 


27 50 


A. Huser 


7 80 


Byers k Jordan 


55 75 


J. Glessner 


5 00 


E. Devalcoun - 


30 00 


L. Eichelberger 


45 ai 


J. Bowver 


•WOO 


James hagan - 


50 00 


Edward Cole 


33 75 


W. W. Leland - 


17 50 


P. W. Gamer, jr. 


45 00 


Guieu Ac Thonipson • 


34 12 


C. Bayon k Wajner ■ 


103 00 


F. S. .Myer - 
T. Sanlord 


225 15 


840 00 


Messenger k RoUston 


15 00 


Webb £ Hutchinson ■ 


35 75 


H. Bosee 


75 00 


Isaac Snow 


10 00 


P. B.Ankeny - 


205 00 


Ramsay k Craieheail - 


lo ai 


£. Kingsbury, jr. 

J. G. k T. J. .UcLain • 


3:^7 50 


4 16 


Ott k Weber - 


152 75 


Wm. B. Anderson 


48 75 


Harker & Busk 


210 37 


John .M. Spencer 


619 25 


A. H. Pembenon 


to 62 


J. Livingston - 


780 00 


•G.S. Gilbert - 


10 00 


Wm. k Geo. Johnson 


8.-, CO 


Jos. Justice k Son 


133 5'.> 


Mifflin k Parry 


757 00 


J. P. MasiU - 


866 25 


Jack k ."SIcElroy 


757 (0 


Geo. W.Sherwood 


14C 75 


Dawson k Fisher 


567 12 


D. K. Lightner • 


•259 00 


C. B. H. Fessenier 


132 25 


Joseph Pouili - 


133 00 


T. B.Cr...well - 


133 00 


S. k M. H. Medary ■ 


614 25 


Boas k Copl.in 

A. H.& W.F. Pe.nber- 


760 50 




ton 


3 18 


J. W. Shugert - 


594 75 


A. S. Willington & Co. 


■27 30 


E. Stout k Son ■ 


5 00 


McGonogh k Dimick - 


61 1 25 


F. S. Mver 


8197 10 


F. S. Mver 


68 40 


Mifflin k Parry 


541 25 


Beals k Green • 


1,706 37 


S. .^ledary k Br.yi 


1,837 50 


Cyrus Bart n - 


715 -15 


Paine .Sc Clark • 


549 20 


F. S. Mver 


M 00 


S. Penn. jr. 


853 00 


F. S. Mver 


168 00 


S. Peen', jr. 


■189 95 



the amount of printing and advertising by ih<» 
must be conienl lo imagine thai amount, as well 



Whatever may he held back in the composition i>f ihi.« piirt of the Blue Book, bv acci- 
dent or by contrivance, (sucli, for instance, a.< suspemlinc: the payment of accounts until 
after the //.s7 was miule out for "the book,") enough is tlisciosed to show a prodii^al use 
of the public money for the purpose of establi.shing or |)ensioning: party presses. Of all the 
names of persons who have received the public: money for iidvertisingr durin;j the past vear, 
how many are known, even lo tho.sc of their own vocation, as publishers of newspapers of 
any such circulation as would recommend or even justify the Department in iniblishing its 
adverlihements in them ' it is not lo be doubted that a Post Ollice adverti.^ement, yielding 



13 

an emolument of from two or three to seven ov eight hundred doUars, would be an accept- 
able annual pratification to the printer of anv weekly paper of a circulation of three or foui 
hundred papers, confined, perhaps, to the limits of a single county : it cannot be doubted 
that upon the inducement of such a douceur (sufficient to pay the wiiuie annual expendi- 
ture of such a paper) a subservient party press might be established where none existed 
before ; but who is there that wdl undertake to justify such employment of the public money, 
under the pretence of advertising for proposals for contracts for carrying the mail in parts 
of the country wiiere perhaps none but a weekly horse-m>ul is to be carried, or in those m 
which the Tost Office call for proposals is alreaily abundantly ciiculated through the regu- 
lar official channel? It is too plain, upon the face of this list, to be susceptible of doubt, 
in the mind of those at least who h.ive any general knowledge of the public press, that the 
greater part of the above disbursements of the public money are in reality /or party pur- 
poses, and for no other. In many an instance, we have no doubt, (we may almost say, 
we know,) nothing is known at the Post Office of these expenditures but that some mem- 
ber of Congress, or some influential personage not in Congress, has advtsed such un ap- 
plication of the public money, the intent of it being to confirm a wavering, or to sustain a 
tottering, press. Of the am'ount paid for printing blanks, the reader will perceive at a 
glance, the most considerable sums of money have been all paid to the publishers of the 
most zealous party papers in difi'erent populous cities. _ 

Every reader will be contented, we presume, with this evidence of the s'mcertty ot Mr. 

Van BenKX and his friends in both Houses of Congress in their expressions of alarm at 
the extent of the Executive patronage in 1826, and in their clamor for reform, and especially 

for " the correction of those abuses which have brought the patronage of the Government 

in conflict with the freedom of elections." 

Out upon such hypocrisy ! , 

But the most serious objection taken by the Van Buren party (of 1826) in the House 

of Representatives was, that the enormous patronage of one hundred dollars a year (a bare 

equivalent, if so much, for the actual labor required) to each publisher of the laws had 

been employed by the Executive with the intent to favor the friends of the Administration ; 

inasmuch as, in one year, 1825, as appeared by one of the documents accompanying Mr. 

Benton's Report, the publication of the laws had been transferred from one newspaper to 

another in ten cases out of the whole number (being seventy-nine.) It was the principle, 

and not the amount involved in this fact, which in their opinion endangered the liberties 

of the country. Yes, it was the piinciple of removal from office which most ofi'ended 

their delicate olfactories. This abuse must be reformed, said they : 

" Til' uffence is rank, and smells lo Heaven." 
And how, when soon afterwards, by means of this clamor and these pretences, they 

came into power — these sensitive patriots, who had snuffed corruption " in the tainted 

gale" — how did they reform this particular abuse ? Let us see. 

Besides removing all the high Cabinet Ministers, which was done on the first day after 

the inauguration of President, (and to which no exception is taken,) the Jackson- Van 

Buren Administration, by removals from office, within that year, filled with its own polit- 
ical friends and partisans the following offices, viz ; 

Minister Plenipotentiary to Colombia.* Secretary of Legation to Colombia. 

Minister Plenipotentiary to Great Britain. First Assistant Postmaster General. 

Minister Plenipotentiary to France. Second Assistant Postmaster General. 

Minister Plenipotentiary to the Netherlands. Second Comptroller of the Treasury. 

Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain. ' Second Auditor of the Treasury. 

Charge d'Aflaires to Mexico. Fourth Auditor of the Treasury. 

Charge d'Affaires to Sweden. Treasurer of the United States. 

Charge d'Aflaires to Peru. Register of the Treasury. 

Secretary of Legation to Great Britain. Judge of Teriitory of Arkansas. 

Secretary of Legation to France. Treasurer of Mint United States. 

Secretary of Legation to the Netherlands. 

Marshals of the United States for the Districts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, 

Louisiana, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri. 
Attorneys of the United States for the Districts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New Jer- 
sey, Lousiana, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, New Hampshire, Connecti- 
cut, New York, Alabama, Indiana, Florida. 

♦ It is remarkable enough ihai the only public ofBcer removed by President Jackson, on the very first 
day of his entering upon the dischiirge of his duties (besides the heads of Departments) was General Wm. 
Henby Harrison, Minister to Colombia. 



14 

C«j|lectors and Surveyors of the Customs, Naval (Revenue) Officers, and Appraisers, as 
follows: In Maine, three; New Hampshire, one; Massachusetts, nine; Vermont, one; 
Connecticut, one; New York, eleven; New Jersey, one; Pennsylvania, two; Delaware, 
one; Maryland, three; District of Columbia, two; Virginia, one; North Carolina, two ; 
Louisiana, four; Western Slates and Territories, six. 
Indian Agents, six. 
Navy Agents, three. 

Receivers and Register.s ol Land Office.^, twenty-six. 
Consuls for foreign ports, twenty -one. 

Clerks, &c. in public offices at the seat of Government, number large, but not accurately 
known. 

Postmasters, four hundred and ninety-one, viz. 
In Maine, fifteen. In Georgia, two. 

In New Hampshire, fifty-live. In Alabama, two. 

In VermotU, twenty-two. In Mississippi, five. 

In Massachusetts, twenty-eight. In Lnuisiann, four. 

In IJhodc Island, three. In Tennessee, twelve. 

In Connecticut, twenty. In Kentucky, sixteen 

In New York, one hundred and thirty-one. In Ohio, fifty-one. 
In New Jersey, fourteen. In Indiana, nineteen. 

In Pennsylvania, thirty-five. In Illinois, three. 

In Delaware, sixteen. In Missouri, seven. 

In Maryland fourteen. In Floritia, one. 

In District of Columbia, ont-. In Arkansas, two. 

In ^'irginia, eight. In Michigan, one. 

Iij North Carolina, four. 
Kcsides these direct removals from office by the Executive, there was a host of removals 
of such persons as held office by secondary appointments, such as clerks, inspecors, «ic. , 
in the Custom-house, whom we have no means of numbering. Me have a statement be- 
tbro us, however, which may afford the reader some idea of the extent of the proscription 
in their case. In the Cu.stom-house at Boston alone, out of fifty-eight persons employed 
in different capacitifs, foutv were removed ! 

Such was the slashing operation of the first year's Administration of the )iretended De- 
mocracy. What was the further extent of the "reform"' — the /a.sA- which, President 
Jacks(i:» said in his inaugural, was "inscribed on the list of Executive duties in charac- 
ters too legible to be overlooked,'' we have not time at present to follow out through the 
succeeding years of the improved Administration of the (.government. 

Nor have we time vt compose a homily upon the virtues of disinterestedness, consisten- 
cy, meekness, iharity, and forbearance exhibited in such interesting lights in this chapter 
of political history. Neither shall we here debate upon the effect and consequences, any 
more than upon the character and complexion of the motives of the principal actors in this 
scene of pro.scription. Happily we iind these so truly lind plainly portrayed in a public 
document now before us that it will be a happy relief to our readers to meet with what is 
so applicable, from so able a hand, instead of ours. In a report made in the Senate nn the 
9lh of February, 1835, by Mr. Cai-hucn, as chairman of a select conimittee appointed 
"to inquire into the extent of the Executive iiairomige, the causis which have contributed 
to its great increase of late," &i-. we find the following striking passages : 

" But as greatly as ihr-se causes [increase of public^xpendiiures, &c.] have adtled t" the force of patron 
ai»e of late, there are olheis ol a ditferenl nature, which have coniributed to cive it a far L'reaier ami mnre 
dangiToiis influence. Ai the head of ihesp should be placed the pracuce so greatly pxtrnded, if not for the 
fir.sl lime inir-duced, of removing from oflice nereons well (iiialified, and who had laiihfiilly performed their 
duty, in order lo fill their places with those wno are recommended on the ground that they belong to ilie 
jjariv in powpr. 

" Vour commiilee feel that thpy are loiichinc pround which may he ronsiJerpd of a party character, and 
which, were it i-ossiMo, consistently with thedisohariie of thoir duty, they would wh.'Uy avoid, as their ol.i- 
iect is to inquire iiun facts only, as contritiiitin!: to incrciso the pairohace of the E.\ecutfve, without hs-iking 
to intention, or disirini; to ta.st censure on thiso in [Kiwer ; but while they would cautiously Rv..id any re- 
nurk of a party chatac'ier, as inronsisioni with tho gravity of the su; jpcij'and imompaiille with the inten- 
tion of the Senate in directing the inquiry, ihoy trust thal'lh^y are inca|Mitile of shrinkinc from the perf.irm 
ance of the ininiriani and sulcmn duiy ronfidi'd to th'-ni, of iliorouchly invesiieatinc ti' ine l)Ottom a subject 
invulvini:. ;is ini'y believe, the lalo ni our (xilitlcal iiisiiiuiioii(> and ih • liberty of itie country, Ly declining 
10 invcHtitiaio, fully and freely as regards its charactPr and consequoace, every niei'ure it pnulioe of the 
Government conupcted with iho inquiry, whether it has or has n<il been a suljpct of pany controversy. 

"lnH[,eakinc of the practice ul removing fiom olfi e on pany t'round as of rpf em date, and, of lourse, 
comprr hended under the cnuseg which have of laie coniributed li^ihe Increase of Executive paininaee, your 
cotnimiice are aware that cases .f such removals may le f.iund in tlie early Biases of the Givernmeht ; but 
Ihey are so few, and exercised »o little intluencp, that they mav be said to'conwiiuie Insiancrs ra-her than 
as (onning a practice, h is only within the last lew years that removals irvm office have been iniruduced as 



15 

a system, ami, lor lUd first lime, an oiiiKirtuniiy lias licfii aiVuidoil of testing the tendency of the practice, 
anil witnessing llie niighiy incrtase wliich ii his given to the force of Executive palrona<:c, and the entire 
And fearful change, in conjunction will) other causes, it is ett'ecting in the cliaracier of our political system. 
Nor will it require much reflection to perci ive in what manner it conirilaiies lo increase so vastly the extent 
of Executive paironaee. , r-,/ , 

'• So long as offices 'were considered as public trusts, to be conferred on the honest, the faithlul, and capa 
blc, for thecommon good, and not I.t the benefit or gain of the incunilieni ir his pany, and so long as it was 
the practice of the Government to continue in office those w ho faithfully performed tlieir duties, its patron- 
age, in point of fait, was limited lo the more power o( nominating to accidental vacancies or to ncwly.crea 
ted offices, and could, of course, exercise but a mndcrate influence, either over the body of the community 
or of the rffice-holders themselves: but when this practice was reversed— when offices, instead of being 
considered as public irusis, to be conferred on the deserving, were regarded .is Ihe spoils of rictory, to be 
lipsiowed as rewards for partisan services, wiihoul ic sprct to merit; when it became to be understood that 
all who hnld office hold bv the tenure of partisan zeal and party service, it is easy to see that the certain, 
direct, and ineviialle tondency of such a state of things is to convert the entire body of those in office into 
corrupt and supple instniment'sof piower, and to raise up a host of hungry, sreedy, and subservient panisans, 
ready for every service, h wever base and corrupt. Were a premium oll'ered for the best means of extending 
to the utmost the power of patronage; to destroy the love of country, and to substitute a spirit of subserviency 
and inan-worship ; to encourage vi'ce and disciiurase virtue ; and, in a word, to prepare for the subversion ol 
libeily, and the estaUishment'of despotism, no scheme more perfect could be devised; and such nmsi be the 
tendency of the practice, with whatever iuteniiun adopted, or to whatever extent pursued." 

Mr. Caluoi-v, in this report, refers lo cases of removals which may be found in the 
early stages of t'. e Govcrnmejit, which he justly remarks are ^o few, and exercised so iitti»* 
influence, that they may be said to constitute instances of exception rather tiian as forming 
M practice. Few indeed were they ! In the eioht years' adminislralion of Mr. Madison, 
they numbered ox\\y fourteen ,- in the eight years of Mr. Monbok, only thirteen; and in 
the four years of Joux Q. Ada^is, only thhek !* What was the number during a single 
year of the Adinini.stration of the pariy which succeeded in putting down an Administra- 
tion which made so "few" removals, the reader will have learned from the preceding 
enumeration. 

As if to afford to posterity a standard by which men should in all time to come be able 
to measure, with the greatest precision, the distance between the profesfioiis and practices 
of ambitious demagogues, the Senate committee of 1826 proposed, along with their sj.r 
bills of retrenchment and reform, an uinendvient lo the Constitution lo prevent the ap- 
pointment of Members of Congress to civil office under the General '-Government, to which 
iheir report refers as follows : 

"The conimiilee have also reported another pi-op.'sition of amendment, intended to exclude Senators and 
Representatives from appointment to civil offices under the authority of the Federal Government ; and this 
proposition they will not despair of seeing referred to the consideration arid decision of the People." 

This is the standard of the pretended "democracy," set up in the year 1826, by its 
leader-s, Messrs. Bk.vtox and Vajt Blrex. And here is the evidence of the fidelity of 
the same parly to the principles under the name and garb of which they came into power : 

Appointments of Members of Congress to Office since the beglnrmig of Gen. Jackson's 

Adniinistration. 

Martin Van Buren, of N Y. Secretary of Slate. Geo. M. Dallas, of Pa. Minister to Russia. 

Samuel D Ingham, ofP.i. Secretary of the Trnasury. Thos. H. Crawford, of Pa. Indian Commissioner, <S:c. 

John H. Eaton, of Tenn. Secretary of War. Wiley Thompson, of Geo. Indian Commissioner. 

John Branch, of N. C. Secretary of the Navv. James 31. Wayne, of Geo. Judge Supreme Court. 

John M. Berrien, of Geo. Attorney General. Nicholas D Coleman, of Ky. Postmaster. 

VVm. C Rives, of \a. Minister to France. Philip P. Barbour, of Va. Judge Supreme Court. 

Louis McLane, of Del. ^linisier to England. Jno. G. Slower, of N. V. Attorney or Marshal of Ala. 

Levi Woodliury, of N. •-. Secretary of the Navy. Francis Baylies, (f Mass. Charge d'Affitirfs to Buenos 

John Kandolph, of Va. Minister to "Russia. Ayres. 

Mahlon Dickerson. of N. J. Secretary of the Navy. Edward Kavanagh, of Me. Minister to Portugal. 

John Forsyth, of Geo Secretary of State. Edw. .A. Hannegan, of Ind. Register of Land Office. 

Felix Gruudv, of Tenn. Auorney General- 'I'homas Irwin, of Pa. Judge of District Court. 

Edward Livih:;9lon of La. Secretary of State. John Biddle, of Mich, Receiver of Land Office. 

Powhatan Ellis, of Miss. Minister to lAIexico. Geo. W. Owen, of Ala. Collector of Mi>bile. 

John iNIcKinley. of Ala. Jiidee Supreme Court. R. H. Gillet, of N. Y. Indian Commission. 

S R Hobbie, ot N. V. Assistant Postm.asier General. Joseph Hall, of Me. Custom-house officer at Boston, 

John Finlay, of Pa. Postma^-ter at Chambersburg. Edward Lucas, of Va. Sup't Harper's Ferry Armcry. 

Thi.>s. P. :Moore, of Kv. Jlinister to Colombia. Jesse Miller, of Pa. First Auditor. 

H" A. Muhlenberg, of Pa. Minister lo Austria. Gorham Parks, of Me. Marshal. 

Andrew Stevenson, of Va. Alinisier to Endand. Michael W. Ash, f Pa. Navy Agent. 

John Chandler, of Me. Cororef Portland & Falmouth. Benj. C. Howard, of Md. Commissioner about Michi 

Will. Smith, of S. C.JuduR SuBreme Court. gan Boundary. , rs- - r, 

John Anderson, of Me. Collector of Portland. Andrew T. Judsni, of Conn. Judge of District Court. 

James VV. Ripley of Me. Captain of Ordnance, Humphrey H. Leavitt. of O. Judge of District Court 

C C. Cambreleng, of N, Y, Minister to Russia. Ely Moore, of N, Y, Surveyor of Cusioms. 

Hector Crai', of N Y, Surveyor Port of New York, Isaac H, Bronson, of N. Y, Judse in Florida. 

Chas. G, De Wilt, of N. Y. .Aiinister to Guatemala. Samuel Cushman.of N. H. Postmaster at Portsmouth 

Wm Wilkins, of Pa. .Minister to Russia. Samuel J. Gholson, of ?Iibs District Judge. 

James Buchanan, of Pa Minister to Russia. Robert T. Lytle, of O. Surveyor General. 

♦ Executive Documents, House of Represemaiives, Ist Session 26ih Congress, Document No. 132. 



16 

Isaac S. Pennybackrr, of V'a. Disirici Judge. Georse W. Jones, of Wiskt'Osin, Surveyor GeniTal. 

Arnold Plume'r, of Pa. Marshal. ' Wm.'FindUy, of Pa. Treasurer uf Mini. 

Nathl. Garro.v, of X. V. .Marslial. Jenimus Johnson, of N. Y. Ai'prdiser. 

Geo. Liyall, uf Va. Navv .\-.'enl. Wilson Lumpkin, of Geo. Indian .-Veent. 

Leonard' Jarvis, • f Me. Navy .■Vgeni. Thos. Maxwell, of N. Y. P.-simasier al Rlmyra. 

[The greater part of the names included in thi.s list were Members of Congress at the 
time oi their ajjpointment. Othe^^^ had very recently been, and none of them, it is believed, 
but would have come within the space of two years after service in Congress.] 

Thus it is that the parly in power have falsified all their professions, and thereby con- 
verted this Government into a mere machine tor raising revenue for the reward, support, 
and gratification of a host of office-holders, who in return devote nil the ability and energy 
with which nature has endowed them to perpetuate their ill-gotten power. As now bd- 
minis:ereil, not only is the Government just such a machine, but the design is not conceal- 
ed to keep it such; and, if the party succeed in re-electing its President, and fnllow the in- 
dications from its powerful leaders, we shall beyond doubt have a btautiful illustration, be- 
fiire long, of the Locofoco beau ideal of Government, or, as .Mr. .\tlornev General Butleh 
described it, of " a pcue axd eahxkst democbact, illu.minatfd bt the sovsdest 

PKISCIPLKS OF political ECONOMY." 

Just such a Democracy, or a Democracy in many points resembling it, France for a brief 
period once enjoyed the blessing of. Some of its maxims have come down to us in histo- 
ry ; one of which is, that no man should be richer than another, a!id another that the spoils 
of the Ari.-tocrats belimg of right to the Sans-culottes. Perhaps, however, a scrap of that 
history will illustrate the points of resemblance between the two s\ stems better than any 
thing that we can say. We conclude this article, therefore, with the following extract: 

I ROM .MOORk's JOCItXAL OF THE FnEXCH 11 K VO LITION . 

"Sept. 13, 1792. — The character of some of the Deputies already chosen by the De- 
partment of Paris does not tend to convey high expectations of the ensuing Convention. 
Marat is of the number; he is supposed to have obtained his honor partly by bis own pop- 
ularity amoriK the low classes, and partly through the inlluence of a faction, at the head of 
which are Danton, the Minister of Justice, and Robespierre. As the reputation of .Marat 
was not of pure white previous to the 2d of September, and has been considered as of a 
scarlet hue since, it was thought necessary to prepare the minds of the electors, and en- 
deavor to conciliate them in his favor, before the day of election. For this purpose Cbabot, 
who was foriperly a Franciscan friar, has been since a patriotic orator, and is already 
chosen a Deputy to the Convention, made an oration in his favor in the Society of Jacobins, 
of which many of the electors are members. As this discourse is certainly of a very ex- 
traordinary nature, and as it discovers the disposition both of the orator and of the person 
he recommends, I shall give the following passage from it : 

" JMarat is rppro.ichfd with being of a sanpuinarj- dis|>isiiion ; that he contributed, for example, lo ihe 
late massacres in the prisons ; but, iii doing so, he acted in the irue spirit of the revolution ; for il vols nol lo 
be expected ihal, wliile our bravest patriots went lo ihe froniiers, we should remain here exposed lo ihe raee 
of the prisooprs, who were promised arms and the opnuriunity of a.ssassinaiine us. We are lold ihal he"is 
sansuinary, because ofiener than once he demanded llie tiU«>d of ihe arisioirais, and also thai of the cornipi 
niembers ol^ihe dmsiiiueni .Assembly Bui il is well known th:il llie plan ofihearisiocrats always has been, 
and siill is, lo make a general carnase of ihe sans culoues. Now, as ihe number of the latter is u> ihai of 
the former m the iirtiporlion of nineiy-nine lo one, ii is pvideni ihai he who prki(X'5es lo kill one. lo prevent 
(he killing of nineiy-nine, is noi a bloodihirsiy man. Neither can he justly be called an incendiary, for he 
prop<.pscd lo give the s|x)ils of the arisiocrsils to llie sans-cuiolles ! How, then, can he be accuseil of vvishine 
to harm them /" 



19th CONGRESS, [ ^^ ] 

1st Session. 



IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. 
May 4, 1826.^ 



Mr. Benton, from the Select Coniiiiittee to which was referred the 
proposition to inquire into the expediency of reducing the Patron- 
age of the Executive Government of the United States, made the 
following 

REPORT: 

That, after mature dehberation, the Committee are of opinion that it 
is expedient to diminish, or to regulate, by law, the Executive Patron- 
age of the Federal Government, whenever the same can be done con- 
sistently with the provisions of the Constitution, and without im- 
pairing the proper etiiciency of the Government. Acting under this 
conviction, they have reviewed, as carefully as time and other en- 
gagements would permit them to do, the degree and amount of pa- 
tronage now exercised bv the President, and have arrived at the con- 
elusion that the same may, and ought to, be diminished by law. For 
this purpose they herewith present to the Senate six bills, entitled : 

1. A bill to regulate the publication of the Laws of the United 
States, and of public advertisements. 

2. A bill to secure in office the faithful Collectors and Disbursers 
of the Revenue, and to displace defaulters. 

3. A bill to regulate the appointment of Postmasters. 

4. A bill to regulate the appo'ntment of Cadets. 

5. A bill to regulate the appointment of Midshipmen. 

6. A bill to prevent Military and Naval Officers from being dis- 
missed the service at the pleasure of the President. 

The Committee do not doubt but that there are many other 
branches of Executive Patronage, in addition to those which are 
comprehended in the provisions of these bills, which might be advan- 
tageously regulated by law. Far from thinking that they have ex- 
hausted the subject, they believe that they have only opened it, and 
that nothing more can be done, at this time, than to lay the founda- 
tion of a system to be followed up and completed hereafter. 

In coming to the conclusion that Executive Patronage ought to be 
diminished and regulated, on the plan proposed, the Committee rest 
their opinion on the ground that the exercise of great patronage in 
the hands of one man, has a constant tendency to sully the purity 



[ 88 ] 2 

of our institutions, and to endanger the liberties of the country. This 
doctrine is not new. A jealousy of power, and of the influence of 
patronage, which must always accompany its exercise, has ever been 
a distinguished feature in the American character. It displayed it- 
self strongly at the period of the formation,*and of the adoption, of 
the Federal Constitution. At that time the feebleness of the old Con- 
federation had excited a much greater dread of anarchy than of pow- 
er — " of anarchy among the members than of power in the head" — ' 
and although the impression was nearly universal that a government 
of more energetic character had become indispensably necessary, yet, 
even under the intiuence of this conviction — such was the dread of 
power and patronage — that the Slates, with extreme reluctance, yield- 
ed their assent to the establishment of the Federal Government. Nor 
was this the etfect of idle and visionary fears on the part of an igno- 
rant multitude, without knowledge of the nature and tendency of 
power. On the contrary, it resulted from the most extensive and 
profound political knowledge — from the heads of statesmen, unsur- 
passed, in any age, in sagacity and patriotism. Nothing could recon- 
cile the great men of that day to a constitution of so much power, 
but the guards which were put upon it against the abuse of power. 
Dread and jealousy of this abuse displayed itself throughout the in- 
strument. To this spirit we are indebted for the freedom of the press, 
trial by jury, liberty of conscience, freedom of debate, responsibility 
to constituents, power of impeachment, the control of the Senate over 
appointments to otiice ; and many other provisions of a like character. 
Bat the Committee cannot imagine that the jealous foresight of the 
time, great as it was, or that any human sagacity, could have fore- 
seen, and placed a competent guard upon, every possible avenue to 
the abuse of power. The nature of a constitutional act excludes 
the possibility of combining minute perfection with general excel- 
lence. After the exertion of all possible vigilance, something of what 
ought to have been done, has been omitted, and much of what has 
been attempted, has been found insufficient and unavailing in practice. 
Much remains for us to do, and much will still remain for posterity 
to do — for' those unborn generations to do, on whom will devolve the 
sacred task of guarding the Temple of the Constitution, and of keep- 
ing alive the vestal flame of liberty. 

The committee believe that they will be acting in the spirit of 
the constitution in laboring to multiply the guards, and to strengthen 
the barriers, against the possible abuse of power. If a community 
could he imagined in which the laws should execute themselves — 
in which the power oi government should consist in the enactment 
,,f laws — in such a state the machine of government would carry 
on its operations without jar or friction. Parties would be unknown, 
and the movements of the political machine would but little more dis- 
turb the passions of men than they are disturbed by the operations of 
the great laws of the material world. But this is not the case. The 
scene shifts from this imaginary region, where la w§ execute themselves, 

* Federalist. 



3 [88] 

to the theatre of real life, wherein they are executed by civil and mih- 
tary officers, by armies and navies, by courts of justice, by the collec- 
tion and disbursement of revenue, with all its train of salaries, jobs, 
and contracts: and, in this aspect of the reahty, we behold the work- 
ing of PATRONAGE, and discover the reason why so many stand ready, 
in any country, and in all ages, to flock to the standard oi power 
wheresoever, and by whomsoever, it may be raised. 

The patronage of the Federal Government, at the begimiing, was 
founded upon a revenue of two millions of dollars.* It is now ope- 
rating upon twenty-two millions, and, within the life time of many 
now living, must operate upon fifty. The whole revenue must, in a 
few years, be wholly applicable to subjects of patronage. At present, 
about one-half, say ten millions of it, are appropriated to the principal 
and interest of the public debt, which, from the nature of the object, 
involves but little patronage. In the course of a few years, this debt, 
without great mismanagement, must be paid off. A short period of 
peace, and a faithful application of the sifc)king fund, must speedily 
accomplish that most desirable object. Unless the revenue be then 
reduced, a work as difficult in republics as in monarchies, the patron- 
age of the Federal Government, great as it already is, must, in the 
lapse of a few years, receive a vast accession of strength. The reve- 
nue itself will be doubled, and instead of one half being applicable to 
objects of patronage, the whole will take that direction. Thus, the 
reduction of the public debt, and the increase of revenue, will multiply 
in a fourfold degree the number of persons in the service of the Fed- 
eral Government, the quantity of public money in their hands; and 
the number of objects to which it is applicable; but as each person 
employed will have a circle of greater or less diameter, of which he is 
the centre and the soul — a circle composed of friends and relations, and 
of individuals employed by himself on public or on private account — 
the actual increase of federal power and patronage by the duplication 
of the revenue, will be, not in the arithmetical ratio, but in geomet- 
rical progression, an increase almost beyond the power of the mind 
to cal ulate or to comprehend. 

The committee think it right to attempt to give an idea of the great- 
ness of this power of patronage by referring to an example in a single 
city. They will take the city of New York, and a single branch of 
the federal patronage in that city ; and, to avoid mistake or error, 
will limit their reference to a work of unquestionable authority upon 
this subject — the '• Bhie Book'' of the Republic, which corresponds 
with the "Bed Book'' of monarchies, and will read from pages 41, 
42, 43, 44, 45, 46, of that growing little volume. 

* From the 4th of March '89, to the 31st of December, '91, a period of almost three 
years, the whole amount of the revenue of the Federal Government was only $1,418,913. 



[88] 4 

Names and Compensation oj the Officers of the Customs at New 

York. 

Jonathan Thompson, Collector, - - - - S4,000 00 

Abraham R. Lawrence, Appraiser, - - - 2,000 00 

Frederick Jenkins, do. ... 2,000 00 

William Seignoret, Clerk, - - - - 500 00 

John Condit, Assistant Collector, Jersey, - - 1,000 00 

John T. Vernon, Siirvej'or, - - - - 150 00 

John Kearnev, Deputy Collector, - - - 1,500 00 

Samuel S. Gardiner, do. .... 1,500 00 

David Thompson, Cashier, ... - 1,500 00 

Nathaniel Shultz, Auditor, .... 1,00000 

Cornelius Duryee, Clerk, - - - - 650 00 

Ebenezer Piatt, do. - - - - 650 00 

Jacob Duryee, do. - - - - 600 00 

Zeophar Piatt, do^ - - - - 550 00 

Joseph Leonard, do. - - - - 550 00 

T. McCready, Jun. do. - - - - 550 00 

William Wier, do. - - - - 500 00 

William G. Haycock, do. - - - - 500 00 

John H. Ball, 'do. - - - - 500 00 

George W.Thompson, do. - - - - 500 00 

William Tuthill, do. - - - - 500 00 

Joshua Philips, do. - - - - 500 00 

Daniel Bennet, do. - - - - 500 00 

Joseph Osborn, Jun. do. - - - - 500 00 

Jas. B. Thurston, do. - - - - 500 00 

Norman Butler, do. - - - - 600 00 

Samuel II. Eakin, do. - - - - 600 00 

Charles A. Gardiner, do. - - - - 500 00 

Thomas H. Dubois, do. - - - - 500 00 

Thomas Dennison, do. - - - - 500 00 

William J. McMaster, do. - - - - 500 00 

Andrew Martine, do. - - - - 500 00 

Isaac Bluxome, do. - - - - 500 00 

Henry Bull, do. - - - - 500 00 

William B. Bvram, do. - - - - 300 00 

Andrew H. ivlickle, do. - - - - 300 00 

Nathaniel Olcott, do. - - - - 500 00 

David Scabury, do. - - - - 500 00 

Lewis M. Wiss, do. - - - - 1-4 5 53 

John R. Kean, do. - - - - 241 67 

Aaron Phillips, do. - - - - 112 22 

John Harrison, do. - - - - 79 12 

Bcrnardus C. Lake, do. ... 73 63 

Junius Thompson, do. - - - - 92 03 

George Waterman, do. - - - - 58 24 

John C. Mickle, Messenger, . . . . 300 00 



5 [ 88 ] 

James Anderson, Inspector, . . - - gi,095 00 

James D. Bissett, do. - - - - 1,0S6 00 

Joseph Board, do. ... 1,095 00 

Abraham Boker, do. .... i.095 00 

John R. Bowne, .do. - ' - - 1,020 00 

George G. Burras, do. .... i,0S0 00 

John Byers, do. - . . . 282 00 

Charles Chipp, do. .... i^o95 00 

Stephen Crane, do. .... 1,095 00 

Moses Cnnningham, do. .... 297 00 

Joseph Cutler, do, .... i,092 00 

Thomas DarHiig, do. .... 1,095 00 

John De Camp, do. .... i,095 00 

Bertrand Dupoy, do. .... i,080 00 

Jacob Frank, do. .... i,086 00 

Calvin Gay, do. - - - - 1,041 00 

John Gelston, do. .... i,095 00 

Zaddock Hedden, do. .... i,095 00 

George Howard, do. _ . . . 1^095 00 

Bezaleel Howe, do. .... 1,095 00 

Nathaniel Hunt, do. - . . . i,095 00 

Robert Hunter, do. .... i,074 00 

George Junis, do. .... i^o95 00 

Oliver Jaques, do. ... .. 300 oo 

William Keepe, do. .... i,o95 00 

Peter Kinman, do. .... i,095 00 

John B. Kissam, do. .... 303 oo 

John H. Leggatt, do. ..... 1,095 00 

Jacob Ludlam, do. - . _ . 1,095 oo 

Donald McLean, do. - . . . ],077 00 

Samuel Marvin, ,do. .... i,095 00 

James Mitchell, do. - . . . 1,095 oo 

John Morris, do. - - . . 1,095 oo 

Walter Morton, do. .... 1,095 00 

John C. Mott, do. - - . . 300 00 

William E. Nexen, do. - . . . 1,095 00 

Richard Nixon, do. • . . . 1,095 oo 

Naphtali Philips, do. .... i,095 00 

Elijah Pinkney, do. .... i^095 00 

Richard Piatt, do. - . . . i,oso 00 

James Porter, do. .... 1,095 oo 

George Seaman, do. - - - -297 00 

Walter Seaman, do. . - . . i,0S0 00 

Elihu Smith, do. .... 300 00 

Peter K. Sprainger, do. .... i,077 00 

Dennis Strieker, do. .... i,095 00 

Sylvester Sullivan, do. .... *i,095 00 

Peter Taylor, do. .... 300 oo 

Egbert Thompson, do. .... 1,095 00 



[88] 6 

William Underhill, Inspector, - - - - 300 00 

B. M. Van Beuren, do. - - - - 1,095 00 

William Van Bern en. do. - - - - 1,095 00 

Jacob Vanderpool, do. - - - - 1,095 00 

John Van Dyck, do, - - - - 1,095 00 

Andrew Van Tuvl, do. - - - - 1,095 00 

Jacob Van Winkle, do. - - - - 1,095 00 

Thomas Walton, do. - - - - 1,032 00 

Thomas Waring, do. - - - - 1,095 00 

Caleb T. W^ard, do. - - - - 1,095 00 

Richard Ward, do. - - - - 1,095 00 

Jedediah Waterman, do. - - - - 1,095 00 

William Willing, do. - - - - 1,095 00 

John Whittlesey, do. - - - - 1,095 00 

Elam Williams, do. - - - - 1,095 00 

Joseph Willonghbv, do. - - - - 300 00 

Benjamin Woo^d, ' do. - - - .- 1,095 00 

John Woodward, do. - - - - 1,095 00 

Abraham Baudoine, Ganger, . - - - 1,789 88 

Rinier V. Mooney, do. ... - 1,874 54 

Elias Nexen, do. - - - - 1,339 29 

Archibald Somervitle, do. - - - - 1,045 49 

Harman C. Tallman, do. - - - - 1,843 66 

William R.Thompson, do. - - - - 2,187 99 

Ebenezer Belknap, Weigher, - - - - 1,781 17 

Alexander Blucher, do. - - - - 1,619 94 

Jeremiah Brower, do. . - - - 1,830 74 

Elihu H. Decamp, do. . - - - 2,153 58 

Gerret Forbes, do. - - - - 3,3S6 70 

Thom.as Hazard. do. - ... I,040 41 

Francis McClure, do. - - - - 2,176 23 

Alexander Nicoll, da. - - - - 1,181 27 

Jacob Stontenberg, do. - - - - 1,065 10 

Jacob Tallman, do. - - - • 2,363 10 

Elbert P. Waine, do. - - - - 2,382 68 

Samnel Bnrling, Measurer, - - - - 618 65 

Nicholas G. Carmer, do. - . - - - 936 47 

Daniel Dodge, do. - - - - 1,174 17 

Ezekiel Dodge, do. - - - - 727 33 

John Gould, do. - - - - 1,040 29 

James W. Gray, do-. _ - - - 833 66 

William Philips, do. . . - - 1,121 79 

Bernardns Rider, do. ... - 1,252 29 

Ephraim Snow, do. - - - - _ 885 51 

TIarmanus Vedder, do. - - - - 1,041 4S 

Peter Wvnroop, do. - - - - 1,124 09 

John J. Cluett, do. - - - - 524 47 

Peter Smith, Deputy Inspector of Revenue, - - 1,748 87 

Ebenezer Cole, do. . . - - 60n 35 



7 [88] 

William Jessiip, Dep'y Inspector of Reve'n, - - §1,23.5 71 

G. Cunningham, do. - - 84 00 

Henry Cahoone, Capt, R. Cutter, - - - SI 9 00 

William Isaac, 1st Lieutenant, - . - - ,566 00 

.1. A. Bender, 2d do. . - . . son 00 

John S. Doane, Keeper L. H. - - - - 400 00 

John H. Gardiner, do. - - - - TJSO 00 

Noah Mason, do. - - . . 300 00 

Edward Shoemaker, do. - - - - 300 00 

Charles IL Bernard, Light Ship Master, - - 700 00 

John Oakes, Male, ----- 350 00 

John Ferguson, Naval Officer, - - - - 3,000 00 

David S. Lyon, Deji'y do. - - - - 1,500 00 

William Bartsell, Clerk, - - - - 800 00 

John Cockle, do. ... - 750 50 

Philip Tabele, do. - - - - 600 00 

Samuel Osgood, do. - - - • 600 00 

Lewis D. Ozville. do. - . - - - 600 00 

INIichael Roth, do. - - - - 600 00 

Henry Reed, do. - - - - 600 00 

Joseph B. Bleecher, do. - - - - 500 00 

Lewis Webb, Jim. do. - - - - 400 00 

James McFarland, do. - - - - 60 00 

Joseph G. Swift, Surveyor, - . . - 2,500 00 

Saml. Terry, Dep'y do. - . . - 1,500 00 

Anthony Hatf, First Clerk, - - - - 800 00 

Pierre A. Young, Second do. - - - - 750 00 

E. B Grayson, Third do. - - - - 500 00 

D. Thompson, Collecting do. - - - - 170 00 

Thomas Brannan, Porter, - - - - 180 00 

A formidable hst indeed! formidable in numbers, and still more so 
from the vast amount of money in their hands. The action of such a 
body of men, supposing them to be animated by one spirit, must be 
tremendous in an election ; and that they will be so animated, is a 
proposition too plain to need demonstration. Power over a man's 
.mpporl, has always been held and admitted to hepowerover his will.* 
The President has " power" over the •' support" of all these officers; 
and tliey again have '' power" over the " support" of debtor mer- 
chants to the amount often millions of dollars /;e;- annum, and over 
the daily support of an immense number of individuals, professional, 
mechanical, and day-laboring, to whom they can 3.ud.tvi/l extend, or 
deny, a valuable private as well as public patronage, according to the 
part which they shall act in Slafe, as well as in Federal, elections. 
Still this is only a branch, a mere prong, of Federal patronage, in 
the city of New York. The same Government has, in the sanie city, 
a branch of the United States' Bank, wielding a capital of many mil- 

• Federalist. 



[88] 



8 



lions; a large military, naval, and post-oiiice establishment; a judi- 
ciary, with its appropriate officers ; presses, which print the laws and 
public advertisements ; and a long list of contractors and jobbers. 

But it may be said that this is an extreme case ; that New York 
is the first city in the Union, and Federal patronage necessarily the 
greatest there. Granted. Then go to the other extreme; take a bo- 
rough town of comparatively small population, and an insignificant 
amount of revenue to collect: take Norfolk, with her white popula- 
tion of five thousand souls, and her nett revenue of sixty-four thou- 
sand seven hundred and twelve dollars and twenty-seven cents, and 
see the power of patronage there. 

Blue Book — Pages 53-4. 
Names and compensation of the Officers of the Customs at Norfolk. 

James Johnson, Collector, &:c. &c. &c. - - - ^1,319 07 

Alexander Tunstall, Deputy Collector - - - 1,000 00 

Thomas Gatewood, Clerk „ . . . roo 00 

Joseph Marks " . ... 54 95 

Richard Gatewood, " and Apr. - - - 51 67 

Thomas Jennings, Inspector and Mar. - - - 1,001 79 

Joseph Fullgham " i- . . . i,095 30 

N. W. Parker, Inspector and St. K. - - - 1,095 00 

William Bous '- and Marker - - - 363 67 

J. A. Forman <• "... 233 67 

T. M'Candlish, Inspector and Measurer - - 271 SO 

Francis Benson, Inspector - - - - 63 00 

G. B. Richards, I. M. and Mar. - . - - - 92 85 

William 1). Roberts, Inspector - - - - 12 00 

William C. Gatewood, " - - - - 27 00 

Thomas Cornick, " - - - - HI 00 

R. B. Servant, " - - - - 18 00 

Jacob Vicory, Weigher and Ganger - - - 512 00 

Edwin Stark, Measurer ----- 460 io9 

J. G. Jones, Captain Revenue Cutter - - - 1,076 30 

John Middleton, 1st Lieutenant '' - - - 573 30 

William Coody, 2d " " _ , . . 513 30 

Thomas Owens, Appraiser - - - - 5 00 

Edwin Lee, " - - - .- - 10 00 

Alex. Wilson, " - - - - - '10 00 

Samuel Vicory, " - - - - - 5 00 

John Tunis, " - - - - - 5 00 

George Raincock, '' - - - - - 5 00 

John R. Triplett, " - - - - - 5 00 

Jno. R. Ilarwood, " - - - - - 5 00 

P. Barrand, Surgeon M. H. - - - - S40 00 

William Tee, Keeper Liglit House - - - 450 00 

John B. Same, " Vessel . . - - 500 00 

Ralph Johnson, " " - ... - - 500 00 

G. L. Corbin, '<"---- 500 00 



9 [88] 

Life Holdeii, Keeper Light Vessel - * - 700 00 

T. Burroughs, " Light House - ' . - 400 00 

John Luke, " " " - - - 400 00 

VVm. Johnson, " « « - - - 400 00 

George Lee, " " " - . - 400 00 

John B. Jones, Surveyor .... 205 50 

Forty-one officers supported and employed by a single branch of 
Federal patronage in Norfolk! to collect an annual decreasing re- 
venue of $64,712 27; a single branch for this borough, also, has 
her navy yard, and military establishment ; her judiciary, post office, 
presses, and the unknown and unknowable list of jobbers and con- 
tractors ; and the still more inscrutable list of expectants, who are 
waiting for " dead men's shoes," and willing, in the moan while, to do 
any thing that the living men wish. The intluence of such a body of 
men, animated by one spirit in an election, must be still more efficient 
in a borough town of five thousand souls, than the influence of a far 
greater number of Federal officers and retainers, in the far greater 
population of New York. And so throughout the Union. Every 
where, to the extreme frontier of the remotest State or Territory, Fe- 
deral patronage will be found, in degree and force, proportionate to the 
population of the place, and forever augmenting with the increasing 
power of the Government. Diminution of patronage is not thought 
of: the state of the Custom House in Norfolk, Is already pregnant 
proof of this. The power of patronage, unless checked by the vigor- 
ous Interposition of Congress, must go on increasing, until Federal 
inlluence, In many parts of this Confederation, will predominate In 
elections as completely as British influence predominates in the elec- 
tions of Scotland and Ireland, in rotten borough towns, and in the 
great naval stations of Portsmouth and Plymouth. In no part of the 
practical 'operation of the Federal Government, has the predictions of 
Its ablest advocates been more completely falsified, than in this sub- 
ject of patronage. The numbers 45 and 46 of the Federalist, were 
devoted to an Inquiry into the comparative means of influence possess- 
ed by the Federal and the State Governments; and the superiority, at 
every point of the Inquiry, was assigned to the latter. It will be use- 
ful to read a few passages from these numbers. Compared with the 
actual state of 'things, they will exhibit the difference which a few 
short years have developed, between the theoretical and the practical 
Goverimient of this Union; and the thinking mind will be carried 
forward, by a natural impulsion, to contemplate the further differen- 
ces which a few years more must uncover. 

THK PASSAGES. 

" The powers delegated by the proposed constitution to the Federal 
Government, ^xefew and defined: those which remain to the State 
Governmets, arc unrnerous and indefinite. * * ^ * * 

The luunber of Individuals employed under the constitution of the 
United .S7r//e.9, wlUbe much .smaller than the number employed under 



[8S] 



10 



the particular States: there will, consequently, be less of personal in- 
fluence on the side of the /orwier than of the /a//eA ' * '^ ' • 
If the Federal Government is to have collectors of revenue, the State 
Governments will have theirs also : and as those of the former (the 
United States) will be principally on the sea coast, and not very nu- 
merous, whilst those of the latter, {the States,) will be spread over the 
face of the country, and will be yery numerous ; the advantage in 
this view also lies on the same side, (//^e.s^Ve o/Z^e S/w/^s.) ^ ' ' * * ' 
Within every district to which a Federal collector would be alotted, 
there would not be less than thirty or forty, or even more officers, of 
different descriptions, (in the employment of the States,) and many of 
them persons of character and weight, whose influence would lie on 
the side of the Statk." 

To be able to show to the Senate a full and perfect view of the power 
and workings of Federal palronage. the Committee addressed a note, 
immediately after they were charged with this inquiry, to each of the 
Departments, and to the Postmaster General, requesting to be in- 
formed of the whole number of persons employed, and the whole 
amount of money paid out, under the direction of their respective 
departments. The answers received are herewith submitted, and 
made part of this report. With the Blie Book, they will dis- 
cover enough to show that the predictions of those w!io were not 
blind to the defects of the Constitution, are ready to be realized; that 
the power and influence of Federal patronage, contrary to the argu- 
ment in the " Federalist^'' is an overmatch for the power and influence 
of Slate patronage; that its workings will contaminate the purity 
of all elections, and enable the Federal Government, eventually, to 
govern throughout the States, as effectually as if they were so many 
provinces of one vast emi)ire. 

The whole of this great power will centre in the President. The 
King of England is the 'Mountain of honor;" the Presidelit of the 
United States is the source of patronage. He presides over tlie entire 
system of Federal appointments, jobs, and contracts. He has ''power" 
over the " support" of the individuals who administer the system. 
He makes and unmakes them. He chuses from the circle of his 
friends and supporters, and /;2f/^ dismiss them, and, upon all the prin- 
ciples of human action, icill dismiss them, as often as they disappdint 
his expectations. His spirit will animate their actions in all the elec- 
tions to State and Federal offices. There may be exceptions, but the 
truth of a general rule is proved by the exception. The intended check 
and control of the Senate, without new constitutional or statutory provi- 
sions, will cease to operate. Patronage will penetrate this body, sub- 
due its capacity of resistance, chain it to the car of power, and enable 
the President to rule as easily, and much more securely with, than 
without, th<? nominal check of the Senate. If the President was him- 
self the olliccr of the Peo]>le, elected by them and responsible to them, 
there would be less danger Irom this concentration of all power in his 
hands: but it is the business of statesmen to act upon things as they 
are, and not as they would wish them to bo. We must then look for- 



11 r 88 ] 

ward to the time when the public revenue will be doubled ; when the 
civil and military olliccrs oi' the Federal Government will be quad- 
rupled : when its influence over individuals will be multiplied to an 
indefinite extent ; when the nomination by the President can carry 
uny man throu^i the Senate, and his recommendation can carry any 
measure through the two Houses of Congress ; when the principle of 
public action will be open and avowed, the President luants my vote, 
and I want his patronage; I will vote as he wishes, and he will g ivk 
me the ojfflce I wish fur. What will tins be but the Govenmient of 
vne man ? and what is the Government oi one man but a monarchy 7 
Names are nothing. The nature of a thing is in its substance, and 
the name soon accommodates itself to the substance. The first Ro- 
man Emperor was styled Emperor of the Republic, and the last 
French Emperor took the same title ; and their respective countries 
were just as essentially monarchical before as after the assumption of 
these titles. It cannot he denied, or dissembled, but that this Federal 
Government gravitates to the same point, and that the election of 
the Executive by the Legislature quickens the impulsion. 

Those who make the President must support him. Their political 
fate becomes identified, and they must stand or fall together. Right 
or wrong, they must support him ; and if he is made contrary to the 
will of the People, he must be supported not only by votes and 
speeches, but by arms. A violent and forced state of things will ensue. 
Individual combats will take place ; and the combats of individuals 
will be the forerunner to general engagements. The array of man 
against man will be the prelude to the array of army against army, 
and of State against State. Such is the law of nature; and it is equally 
in vain for one set of men to claim an exemption from its operation, as 
it would be for any other set to suppose that, under the same circum- 
stances, they would not act in the same manner. The natural remedy 
for all this evil would be to place the election of President in the hands 
of the people of the United States. He would then have a power to 
support him, which would be as able as willing to aid him when he 
was himself supporting the interests of the country, as they would be 
to put him down when he should neglect or oppose those interests. 
Your committee, looking at the present mode of electing the President 
as the principal source of all this evil, have commenced their labors 
at the beginning of this session by recommending an amendment to 
the constitution in that essential and vital particular; but in this, as in 
many other things, they find the greatest difficulty to lie in the first 
step. The committee recommend the amendment, but the People can- 
not act upon it until Congress shall "propose" it, and, peradventure, 
Congress will not " propose" it to them at all. 

The Committee have also reported another proposition of amend- 
ment, intended to exclude Senators and Representatives from appoint- 
ment to civil offices, under the authority of the Federal Government; 
and this proposition they will not despair of seeing referred to the 
consideration and decision of the People. They believe that every 
proposition to amend the Constitution, not frivolous, or flagrantly bad 



[ 88 ] 12 

on Its lace, should be referred to the People. The people viade the 
Constitution, and they can amend it. They are the only constitutional 
triers of the amendment. They alone have power to adopt it : and 
for Congress to refuse to propose the amendment, is^o prevent deci- 
sion, and to act upon the pruiciple that the people are incompetent 
to decide. 

The Committee must then take things as they are. Not being able 
to lay the axe to the root of the tree, they must go to pruning amonl 
the limbs and branches. Not being able to reform the Constitution 
in the election of President, they must go to work upon his powers, 
and trim down these by statutory enactments, wherever it can be 
done by law, and with a just regard to the proper efficiency of the 
Government. For this purpose they have reported the six bills which 
have been enumerated. They do not pretend to have exhausted the 
subject, but only to have seized a (e\v of its prominent points. They 
have only touched, in four places, the vast and pervadmg system of 
Federal Executive Patronage : the Press — the Post Office — the 
Armed Force — and the Appointing Power. They are law, com- 
pared to the whole number of points which the system presents, but 
they are points vital to the liberties of the country. The Press is put 
foremost, because it is ihe moviirg power of human action : the Post 
Ollice is the handmaid of the Press : the Armed Force its execiUor : 
and the Appointing Power the directress of the whole. If the Ap- 
pointing power was itself an emanation of the popular will — if the 
President was himself the officer and the organ of the people — there 
would be less danger in leaving to his will the sole direction of all 
these arbiters of human fate. But things must be taken as they are; 
statesmen must act for the country they live in, and not for the Island 
of Utopia; they must act upon the state of facts in that country, and 
not upon the visions of fancy. In the country for which the Conmuttee 
act, the Press, with some exceptions, the Post Office, the Armed Force, 
and the Appointing Power, are in the hands of the President, and 
the President himself is not in the hands of the People. The Presi- 
dent may, and in the current of human affairs will, be against the 
People ; and, in his hands, the arbiters of human fate must be against 
them also. This will not do. The possibility of it must be avoided. 
The safety of the Peo[)le is the ''supreme law;" and to ensure that 
safety, these arbiters of human fate must change position, and take 
post on the side of the People. 



13 [88] 



A bill to regulate the publication of the Laxosofthe United States, 
and of Public Jldvei'tisements. 

Be. it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of .America in Congress assembled, That, from and 
after the first day of December next, the selection of newspapers for 
the publication of the laws of the United States, and of public adver- 
tisements, shall be made as follows : in each State the number se- 
lected shall not be less than three, and may be equal to half thf 
number of Representatives to which such State may be entitled in 
Congress; in each Territory, one ; in the District of Columbia, three. 

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the selection of newspapers 
for the above objects, within the respective States, shall be made by 
the Senators and Representatives in Congress, from such State, and 
the names of the selected papers commiuiicated to the Department of 
State, in writing, signed jointly or severally, and a majority to govern, 
on or before the first day of January next, and on or before the same 
day in every two years thereafter ; in default of which, the selection 
shall be made by the Secretary of State. 

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the Delegates from Territo- 
ries, respectively, shall, in like manner, each select the paper in which 
the publication of the laws of the United States and public advertise- 
ments, shall be made in the Territory from which he comes ; and in 
default of such selection being made, and communicated to the De- 
partment of State, the Secretary of State shall select the same. 

Sec. 4. Andbeit further enacted, That the selection of newspapers 
in the District of Columbia, for the publication of the like laws and 
advertisements, shall be made, at the same time, by the Secretary of 
State ; and a preference shall be given, in the selection, to the papers 
which may have the greatest number of actual subscribers, to be as- 
certained by the affidavit of the editors, respectively. 

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted. That the public advertisements of 
the United States shall be published in such papers only, as may have 
been selected according to the terms of this act, and may be published 
in any number of theiTi, according to the nature of the advertisement, 
and the propriety of giving toil a general, a partial, or merely a local 
circulation. 

Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That,as soon as maybe, after the 
first day of January next, and every two years thereafter, a copy of 
the list of newspapers selected, according to the terms of this act, for 
the publication of the United States' laws and advertisements, shall be 
communicated by the Secretary of State, to the Senate and House of 
Representatives, to tb.e Heads of Departments, respectively, and to 
the Postmaster General. 



District of Colcmbia, County of Washinglon : 

Be U remembered that I, George Sweeny, a Notary Public, by lawful authority duly 
commissioned and sworn, and dwelling in the city of Washington, have this day carefully 
compared the annexed printed paper of fifteen pages, word for word, and figure for figure, 
wii"h Document No. 88, printed for the use of the Senate of the United Stales, at the first 
session of the Nineteenth Congress, and I do hereby certify the same to be a true copy of 
said document. 

In testimony whereof, I, the said Notary Public, have hereunto subscribed my name, 

[L.S.] and affixed my seal of office, at the city of Washington aforesaid, this 14lh day of 

October, 1840. . „ ,,. 

CJEORGE SWEENY, ^otary Public 



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